What is Video Optimization?
Video optimization is a framework leveraged by content broadcasters/streaming platforms to ensure a high-quality viewing experience devoid of lags, long loading times, and buffering events. Video optimization also ensures optimal bandwidth usage where network conditions are unfavorable.
Why is video optimization necessary?
Video playback issues majorly result from video size and bitrate; larger videos take longer to load, and videos with higher bitrate cannot play smoothly where network conditions are unfavorable. This causes buffering and longer loading and start-up times, affecting the viewing experience.
However, by performing video optimization before sharing videos, such playback problems can be eliminated. For instance, reducing file size without affecting quality or optimizing file format to ensure compatibility with playback devices.
If you are a content broadcaster, you can significantly improve video performance improvements by leveraging video optimization best practices.
Tips for Video Optimization
- Video Compression: This involves using compression algorithms to reduce the size of video files and, thus, the storage space required for optimal playback. Compressed files are faster to load and preserve video quality during your compression efforts.
- Compatibility with video formats: The good idea is to convert your MP4 or WebM video files to HTML5 formats, the only widely used playback format for the web supported by major browsers. You don't need a plugin to deliver content in HTML5 formats.
- CDN: A content delivery network offloads content distribution to multiple geographically-placed servers which have cached versions of your video files. This improves content delivery and redundancy and reduces latency and buffering events.