HTTP Live Streaming, or HLS, delivers media using playlists that describe available streams and small media segments. A player downloads and plays those segments in sequence. HLS can support live or on-demand video and multiple quality choices. Its behaviour depends on the playlist, encoding, server and player implementation.
A practical example
During a football broadcast, a player may download several short segments while keeping a little content ahead of the picture. If several quality variants are available, it can select one suited to current delivery conditions and device capabilities.
A common misunderstanding
An address ending in M3U8 is not proof that a stream offers multiple qualities, low latency or a particular resolution. Those capabilities depend on what the source actually publishes.
Related terms
Further reading
Stable technical definition. Editorial approach