MPEG-DASH stands for Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP. It is an international standard developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) that enables high-quality streaming of media content over the internet. This content is delivered from conventional HTTP web servers. Similar to HLS, MPEG-DASH divides the content into chunks or segments, allowing the player to request the optimal quality segment based on current network conditions and client capabilities. This ensures an adaptive and smooth playback experience.
An MPD (Media Presentation Description) file is an XML file used in MPEG-DASH. It describes the structure of the media content, including information about the available segments, their URLs, and the different quality levels. The MPD file acts as a manifest that the DASH player uses to fetch and play the appropriate segments of the media content.
DASH is widely used for streaming video content on the internet and is utilized across various platforms such as online TV services, video on demand (VOD), live broadcasts, and other multimedia applications. Its adaptive nature makes it suitable for delivering content in diverse environments, ranging from high-speed broadband connections to mobile networks, thereby catering to a wide array of devices like smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and computers.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Both DASH and HLS are adaptive streaming technologies, but they have distinct differences:
Playing DASH content usually requires an internet connection and a player that supports DASH streaming. Here are some ways to play DASH video files: