Back to glossary

Media Source Extensions

A browser API that allows JavaScript to dynamically generate media streams for playback, enabling features like adaptive bitrate streaming.

AbbreviationMSE
Categoryweb

Overview

MSE extends the HTML5 <video> and <audio> elements by allowing developers to feed them data 'chunks' manually. This is the technology that powers modern web video players like YouTube and Netflix.

Key Capabilities

  • Adaptive Streaming: Switching between different video qualities (e.g., 720p to 1080p) based on network conditions without interrupting playback.
  • Live Streaming: Handling continuous streams of data.
  • Custom Buffering: Fine-grained control over how much video is pre-loaded.

Context

MSE is typically used with streaming protocols like DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) or HLS (HTTP Live Streaming).

Related Terms

Encrypted Media ExtensionsWebRTC