IPTV glossary
Plain-language definitions of common IPTV and streaming terms.
- IPTV
- Internet Protocol Television — TV and media delivered over the internet instead of cable or satellite.
- VOD
- Video on demand — movies and series you can start anytime, pause and resume.
- EPG
- Electronic program guide — the digital TV schedule showing what is on and when.
- M3U
- A common playlist format an IPTV app uses to load channels.
- Xtream Codes
- A common way to connect an IPTV app using a username, password and server address.
- Catch-up / Timeshift
- A feature to watch programs after they aired, up to 7 days back.
- Buffering
- When the player pre-loads part of the stream; lots of buffering suggests a weak connection.
- Bitrate
- The amount of data per second in a stream; higher bitrate generally means better picture.
- Codec
- Technology that compresses and decompresses audio and video, e.g. H.264 or H.265 (HEVC).
- Smart TV
- A TV with a built-in operating system where you can install apps directly.
- Set-top box
- A small box connected to the TV that runs apps and streaming.
- MAG
- A type of set-top box identified by a MAC address during setup.
- Formuler
- Another common set-top box that also uses a MAC address during setup.
- Firestick
- A small streaming stick that plugs into the TV's HDMI port and runs apps.
- VPN
- Virtual private network that encrypts your internet traffic for added privacy.
- 4K / UHD
- Ultra HD — the highest picture quality, with four times the pixels of Full HD.
- Streaming
- Playing video directly over the internet without downloading the whole file first.
- Bandwidth
- How much data your connection can transfer per second; affects the quality possible.
- Multiscreen
- The ability to watch on several devices at once, depending on your plan.
- Anti-freeze
- Technology that reduces interruptions and freezing on stable connections.