There are various factors to consider while choosing the right streaming platform solution for your streaming requirements, but have you ever considered the significance of Live Streaming Application Program Interface (API)?
Live streaming APIs play a significant role in your decision of which live streaming platform you should choose. Multiple platforms with robust video API coverage are present in the marketplace, which means you must make a wise decision while choosing a streaming platform. Let us find out what a live video streaming API is and some of the finest alternatives accessible.
Live Streaming API – What is it?
API or Application Programming Interface is a piece of code or software that acts as an intermediary so that two applications can communicate or integrate with each other. For instance, if you want to build an application utilizing a platform with a closed API, you will have to connect them through the User Interface, which is tough to do. However, if you are using a solution with an open API, though, you have more control and flexibility over what you can build.
A live streaming API gives you control over all the functions of a live and video on demand streaming platform. It allows you to integrate innovative configurations into your application without predefined tools, limitations, and vendors, providing you more liberty to integrate with other platforms and design features capable of more powerful tasks.
What does a live streaming API do?
A Live streaming API allows you to:
- Create, start, and stop live streams
- Obtain information about the stream
- Set custom target
- Convert previous streams into VOD
- Stream at low latency
- Generate advanced workflow
- Manage video assets and add metadata
- Insight into performance with the help analytics
SDK and API – What is the difference?
API includes out-of-the-box programs that enable you to interface with other software. But, SDK (Software Development Kit) is a collection of development tools that includes APIs. They are also referred to as a set of tools for purposes. A video streaming platform may provide you an live streaming SDK including various programs like runtimes and compilers as well as APIs so you can build on and control the resources the platform already provides.
6 Platforms with the best Live Streaming APIs
Now. Let’s dive down to find out the platforms with the best live video streaming APIs. We will cover some major players in the industry that makes their APIs accessible to help you make a better decision.
Muvi
Muvi is an industry leading video streaming solution that allows you to stream both live and on-demand contents. You can use Muvi’s online video delivery system to launch a multi-screen OTT platform like Netflix instantly. Muvi provides an end-to-end OTT video streaming solution that includes infrastructure, video player, CMS, billing engine, website, mobile app and many more. You can also start live streaming anything starting from sports, news, to events using Muvi Live. Our API uses HTTP request info from server through requests to API endpoints, allowing you complete programmatic control and regulating power over live streams, stream sources, targets, transcoders and many more.
If you want to implement video into your business, our API makes it possible to build whatever application you can envisage while integrating it with your existing technology infrastructure. Do not worry about building the complicated functions and features from scratch and use Muvi’s API to integrate a video platform with your application.
Vimeo
Vimeo is also a reputed and efficient video streaming solution that helps you create a video platform for your brand and can generate both live and on-demand content. Vimeo’s API is helpful for businesses who are looking to integrate video into their business models without the need of any dedicated technological resources themselves. It makes its API and other libraries and SDKs in multiple languages, namely PHP, Python, and Node.js, thus, making it accessible for a wide range of businesses.
Wowza
Wowza is a leading video solution that specializes in providing both live and on-demand content to the audience. It provides robust API coverage, ranging across transcoding and asset management to advanced workflows and playback optimization.
Wowza Video’s REST API makes it possible to create whatever application by just integrating it with your present tech stack.
Twilio
You have probably heard about Twilio. It provides various APIs, including those built for SMS messaging, voice, and email. Twilio also allows you to create seamless video experiences with adaptive bitrates and exceptional playback. It is built on WebRTC, and it is possible to utilize Twilio’s video streaming platform to build applications for both broadcasting live events as well as internal video communications like one-on-one chats, video P2P, and video groups.
Twilio’s live streaming API allows you to create video rooms that can hold your required number of participants and take advantage of GDPR compliance.
Brightcove
Brightcove is also an enterprise-level video streaming platform that allows you to stream your contents globally. It provides an all-inclusive array of SDKs and unique APIs, including those designed for ingestion, its video player, analytics, transcoding, and CMS integration. It provides many APIs, but you must decide how that will factor into your video and development strategy. However, you can use them to integrate with several other existing technologies and deploy video across a multitude of devices. With Brightcove’s API you can reach your targeted audience with RTMP and HLS output simultaneously as well as publish and stream videos from your favorite CMS.
Kaltura
Kaltura is one of the most flexible open-source video streaming solutions that allows to publish and host both live and on-demand contents. Kaltura provides access to several REST APIs that grant you programmable control to all its core services.
With Kaltura, you can build a custom app, integrate it with your existing tech stack, take advantage of several widgets and solutions and many more! Kaltura’s API makes it possible to ingest content in bulk, license and encrypt content, create, and embed interactive videos and many more.
Summary
API is the most vital feature that needs maximum attention while choosing a video streaming solution for business. Live video streaming API can do many important things, so, check out and compare different platform’s API and product documentation to match your expectations. Most importantly don’t forget to check if they provide customer support that can help you with customer support and integrations. Take a free trial of Muvi’s video streaming platform and explore what it has to offer you!
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