Streaming protocols supported by ApsaraVideo Live

Protocol Latency Benefit Drawback Characteristic Applicable client Applicable scenario
RTMP 1s to 3s Low latency
  • Requires a self-developed player that supports RTMP for iOS
  • Uses non-standard TCP ports
TCP-based persistent connection PCs Live streaming without high requirements for timeliness
FLV 1s to 3s
  • Low latency
  • Allows you to use HTML5 to encapsulate and decapsulate packets for playback
Requires integration with the ApsaraVideo Player SDK TCP-based persistent connection PCs Live streaming without high requirements for timeliness
HLS More than 10 seconds
  • Provides native support for iOS, Android, and HTML5
  • Allows you to use HTML5 to encapsulate and decapsulate packets for playback
High latency HTTP-based short-lived connection PCs and mobile clients Live streaming without high requirements for timeliness, mobile clients, and HTML5 players
ARTC 1s
  • Ultra-low latency
  • Excellent response to unstable network connections
Does not support the AAC coding format and B-frames in HTML5 players (To address this drawback, you can use the real-time transcoding feature to remove B-frames and generate audio streams in the Opus format.) UDP PCs and mobile clients Live streaming with high requirements for timeliness, such as live streaming sale in e-commerce, online education, and online social communications