How does streaming work? In media broadcasts, sounds and images are encoded on air and then decoded by radio or television receivers. Internet streaming works differently. There is no single open channel between the source and the destination. Instead, the source bundles the data into small packets and sends them over the Internet. This is similar to what happens when you send an email or post something on a website. These individual packets can travel from the source to your device at different speeds. Each one is labeled so that your device can place them in the correct order.<\/p>\n
Once your device has enough consecutive packets and is ready to play them, the streaming of content begins. This process is known as buffering. If your Internet connection is not fast enough to receive packets in time when you need them, the content may not play properly. (See “Streaming Problems” below).<\/p>\n
Note that buffering is different from progressive download. This term refers to some downloads that allow you to start playing the content before the file is completely saved. You will still need to save the entire file to your device, and you may encounter similar problems if the data is not downloaded as quickly as it is used for playback.<\/p>\n