What is an HTML5 Video Player?

An HTML5 video player is a software component used to play videos on web pages. It is built using HTML5, the latest version of the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), which is the standard language for creating web pages and applications. On 22 January 2008, HTML5 markup language was first introduced to the public. It was the fifth and final major HTML version update as per World Wide Web Consortium(W3C) recommendation. This markup is used to structure and define rules for displaying content on the Internet as web pages. In this major update support for video elements was introduced to support HTML5 video streaming through HTML video controls and elements, easy readability and backward compatibility.

HTML5 introduces native support for multimedia content, including video, which means that videos can be embedded and played directly in web browsers without the need for external plugins or third-party software like Adobe Flash. To add support for HTML5 video streaming, multimedia elements like < video > and < audio > were introduced. They were introduced with additional features like that of Javascript API to add more interactivity and control over the HTML elements and handle.

Benefits of HTML5 Video Player

• Native Browser Support: It is supported natively by all modern web browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge. This means users do not need to install additional software to view videos.
• Use of the <video> Tag: HTML5 introduces the <video> tag, which simplifies the process of embedding video content into web pages. This tag supports various attributes and API support to control the behavior and appearance of the video player.
• Format Compatibility: The HTML5 video player supports multiple video formats, though the most commonly used are MP4 (using H.264 video codec and AAC audio codec), WebM, and Ogg. The support for these formats varies across different browsers. Check the below table for more information.
• Accessibility and Customization: HTML5 video players can be easily customized and controlled using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This allows for the creation of accessible players with custom controls, styles, and behavior.
• Mobile Compatibility: HTML5 video players are compatible with mobile devices and tablets, providing a seamless video experience across different devices and screen sizes.
• API and Interactivity: HTML5 provides a rich set of APIs for controlling video playback programmatically, enabling developers to build interactive and dynamic video experiences.
• Streaming Capabilities: While HTML5 video players support progressive download by default, they can also be used for streaming video content using additional technologies like Media Source Extensions (MSE) and Encrypted Media Extensions (EME).
• Subtitles and Closed Captions: The player supports subtitles and closed captions, making it accessible to a wider range of audiences, including those with hearing impairments.
• Cross-platform Compatibility: Ensures a consistent viewing experience across various devices and browsers. Such cross-platform compatibility allows low-end browsers and devices to perform optimally for enhanced user experience.
• Reduced Dependence on Third-party Plugins: Decreases load times and increases security.
• Enhanced User Experience: Provides smoother playback and more interactive features without a need of third party installation.
• SEO Benefits: As part of a website’s content, videos can contribute to search engine optimization by providing relevant content to the visiting user.

HTML5 Player advantage over Flash

Flash-based players have become obsolete now and HTML5 video players have become the new industry standard. An HTML5 video offers several advantages over Flash Player, such as:

Top 20 HTML5 Video Players

1. VdoCipher

This player is the best having all the advanced features an html5 video player must have. It provides DRM encryption for secure video streaming. It uses Dash as an open-source base to build the DRM-encrypted playback in an online video player.

The player supports functionalities like Multiple quality options, Adaptive playback, Responsive design, Multi-lingual subtitles, Forward/Rewind options, and various player themes in different colors. You can create your custom video player now using Vdocipher player, change the complete appearance, and edit controls as per your need.

2. Plyr

Plyr is a simple, lightweight, and customizable player. It offers support for HTML Vimeo and YouTube players. It is popular in both experts and beginners circles for its lightweight configuration that enables smooth processing for large video files. Plyr intuitively makes things easier with useful elements that help seamless project completion.

Features of Plyr include accessibility (offers full support for VTT captions and screen readers), a lightweight player that does not occupy a lot of space on the server, several customization options, responsiveness to fit any screen size, support for streaming and audio formats.

3. Video.js

A free and open-source player, Video.js offers basic playback options and cross-browser compatibility. VideoJS uses JavaScript to plug cross-browser inconsistencies, ensuring your content appears in the best light. It can also add support for HTML5 tags on older IE versions, and introduce functionalities such as subtitles and full-screen displays.

Other standout features can be introduced in VideoJS with the help of plugins. You can track Google Analytics ever right from the player, add your branding in the player controls, and introduce Chromecast support.

4. Projekktor

A self-hosted, open-source player, Projekktor manages compatibility and cross-browser issues effectively. Projekktor effectively manages all compatibility issues and cross-browser issues while offering a set of powerful features.

The key features of this HTML5 video player are automatic detection of the best way to play your favorite video, its impressive and attractive aesthetics and user-friendly behavior, consistent performance and high reliability.

5. jPlayer

This free, open-source media library is extensible and supports cross-platform video and audio integration.jPlayer allows quick weaving of cross-platform video and audio into your website pages through a jQuery plugin. Its holistic API supports innovative media solutions as the active and engaging open-source community around jPlayer extends support.

You can seamlessly install a package for PHP to download all components and install the required files into the specific path for installation.

6. MediaElement.js

This is a jQuery plugin that enables you to use the video tag with a single H.264 file. If your online media player does not support HTML5, MediaElementJS will replace the online media player with a Flash or Silverlight-based one. Everyone can contribute to improving this product as it’s free and open-source. This player offers a consistent HTML5 API for both Flash and HTML5, making it versatile. It supports audio and video files and can also play YouTube videos.

7. Flowplayer

Known for its ease of use, Flowplayer supports MP4 and FLV formats and offers automated checking of video encoding for logged-in administrators. You can apply branding at the end and the start of the videos. Moreover, users can enjoy unlimited instances on a single page.

A few other features include Google Analytics, Subtitles, Slow motion, Native fullscreen, Keyboard shortcuts, Random seeking, Retina ready, Cuepoints, and so on, without the use of expensive plugins.

8. Kaltura Player

Known for its extensive features, Kaltura Player is suitable for educational and enterprise-level use. It offers analytics, accessibility features, and a wide range of plugins.

Features include multi-platform support, robust performance, and advertising and analytics capabilities (it supports several ad formats such as VAST 3.0 and integrated plugins for video ad networks, such as Tremor Video, AdapTV, Eye Wonder, Ad Tech, DoubleClick DFP, and so on).

9. Elite

Elite Video Player is a fully customizable video player for WordPress that offers advertising support. The responsive HTML5 video player offers playback for platforms such as Vimeo, YouTube, Google Drive, and self-hosting videos (only mp4).

A few standout features of Elite Video Player online include YouTube 360 VR and live streaming support, Google Drive and Open load videos, advertising with pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll ads, video ads, popup ads, and so on.

10. Afterglow

A lightweight, easy-to-use HTML5 video player, Afterglow initializes automatically after the page loads and supports responsive design, ensuring compatibility with different device sizes. A few standout features of Afterglow are its cross-browser compatibility (works on all major browsers and devices and supports IE down to IE9), drop-in replacement, full responsiveness (fits into your design perfectly), and resolution switching capabilities (offers an easy way to serve your videos in HD and SD).

11. Ultimate Video Player

Ultimate Video Player is another responsive audio and video player that supports Vimeo and YouTube videos. It needs an mp4 or mp3 format. The video player can work on mobile devices as well as desktop regardless of the browser used.

12. JW Player

JW Player accommodated support for HTML5 video playback. The online media player is fully customizable with a wide range of features that enhance the accessibility of content and responsiveness of HTML5 videos.

JW Player offers a complete suite of HTML5 video controls. It is also compatible as an alternative to YouTube’s video player. JW Player also supports a wide range of user-defined themes. Its plugins are consistent with the more popular CMS system, making it easier and quicker to integrate.

13. Sublime Video

This player is designed to provide a smooth video playback experience with support for high-resolution videos and responsive layout.

14. Clappr

A flexible HTML5 media player that offers support for HLS, DASH, and other media formats. It is customizable with plugins and has a user-friendly interface.

15. Elmedia Player

Elmedia video player can play all kinds of videos. This Mac OS online media player can allow users to showcase videos from popular sites such as Dailymotion, Vimeo, Facebook, and more. Also, you can allow users to download these videos fro your website. Elmedia can play video online in formats such as M4V, MKV, MP3, DAT, MOV, HTML5, and more.

Standout features of Elmedia HTML5 video player include online video showcasing capabilities, support for hardware acceleration, capturing screenshots from the videos, SWF support, video downloading options, and capabilities to extract audio files from the video.

16. Dailymotion Player

This player is known for its robustness and is used widely for embedding Dailymotion videos. It supports various customization options and video analytics.

17. Chameleon HTML5 Video Player

Chameleon HTML5 player comes with a backup for Flash. Internet Explorer does not support the full-screen experience we are so used to. Features include two skins to choose from, a custom right-click menu with an option to add a copyright link, social sharing options, responsiveness, retina display for MacBook Pro, and more.

18. Ziggeo

This is an innovative video player website focused on video recording and playback with robust API features for customization and integration.

19. Video for Everybody

This is one of the earliest solutions for embedding HTML5 and Flash videos and is also simplistic in its feature set and usability. It comprises a fundamental set of markups that use HTML5 and its capability to move to the next supported object if the current one fails. This means it uses the <video> element to enclose each HTML5 video container source.

It falls back to Flash if the browser does not support HTML5. Features include a bunch of custom controls, support for iPhone and iPad, WebM video support, and more. Video for Everybody video player does not support JavaScript or Browser sniffing.

20. THEOplayer

This player is known for its universal compatibility across browsers and devices, offering a consistent viewing experience with adaptive streaming.

Basic HTML5 Video Player Sample Code

This player will include basic controls like play, pause, and volume control, which are provided natively by the browser.

<!DOCTYPE html>

<html>

<head>

    <title>Basic HTML5 Video Player</title>

</head>

<body>

<video width="640" height="360" controls>

    <source src="path_to_your_video.mp4" type="video/mp4">

    <source src="path_to_your_video.ogg" type="video/ogg">

    Your browser does not support the video tag.

</video>

</body>

</html>

Basic HTML5 Video Player Controls

Basic controls get initiated by using the controls attributes within the video tag as we used in the previous example. It is a boolean attribute and specifies the display of video controls like play,pause,seek, etc as symbols over the video player. It displays the following controls as per their availability.

• Play
• Pause
• Seek
• Fullscreen toggle
• Volume
• Alternate Audio Track (when available)
• Captions/Subtitles (when available)

Must have Features in HTML5 Video Player

• Play/Pause Control: This is typically done by accessing the play() and pause() methods of the video element.
• Volume and Mute Control: Adjusting the volume or muting by modifying the volume property of the video element or using the muted property.
• Seeking and Time Control: A good player should allow seeking to a specific point in the video or retrieving the current playback position.
• Playback Speed Adjustment: Users should be able to control the speed of video playback (e.g., faster or slower).
• Fullscreen Toggle: The ability to switch between fullscreen and normal mode.
• Loading and Buffering Control: player should be able to handle video loading, buffering events, and error handling, providing feedback to the user or taking specific actions when necessary.
• Subtitles and Captions Management: Allows users to enable, disable, or switch between different text tracks (subtitles or captions) available in the video element.
• Adaptive Streaming and Quality Control: The player must be capable enough to switch between different video qualities based on network conditions saving the bandwidth and improving user experience.
• Integration with External Services and Analytics: a video player must be capable enough to send user based video analytics to the client for data based improvements.
• Chapters: To split your video in different sections, making it easier for users to jump to a specific part
• Auto Resume: With auto resume, your videos resume playing from where you left off the playback last time.
• Offline Download: To download videos on mobile devices to watch offline securely on the app video player.
• Light-weight: super light so that it loads very fast, improving your SEO.
• Picture In Picture mode: To watch your videos in a floating window while you access other applications.
• Keyboard shortcuts: So that users can use keyboard shortcuts with smart video player to pause, play and forward video.
• Gestures: Use gestures like tap, double tap, and swipe on the mobile app video player.
• DRM Protection: to protect your video so that no plugin or hack can download your video.
• Dynamic Watermarking: to discourage any screen capture of your videos.

Free Video Player vs Custom Video Player

Protect your Video Content with VdoCipher Secure Video Player

If you have gone through the must have features list and compared that with what you get in a free or open source video player, we believe you won’t be willing to spare any. With VdoCipher’s Hollywood Grade DRM Protected Video Streaming you can protect your videos from hackers and downloaders.

As a video player, we have got a smart video player for all platforms with SDKs for React Native, Android, iOS, Flutter, JS and plugins for moodle and WordPress. It is a fully customizable video player which can be altered by using GUI editor. You can change the appearance of the video player and control every button without a single line of code. In addition, you can search within captions in the custom video player to quickly go to a point in time of video. Use the full VTT spec to style the text to your needs. Also, do not forget that with dynamic watermarking you can put a text overlay on the app video player to display user information such as ip, email address, user id etc on the video.

FAQs

Can you play mp4 using an HTML5 video player?

MP4 file format or MPEG-4 playback is supported by all browsers and is also used in video cameras and other video media Hardware. The HTML5 media player also supports WebM and Ogg formats.

Is it possible to stream audio via an HTML5 player?

Yes, audio can be streamed on an HTML5 video player and can also be separated from the video for handling buffers or adding additional capabilities via JavaScript.

Do HTML5 video players support advanced encryption like DRM?

Yes, these players support dynamic key exchange mechanisms and encryption like DRM for the best video protection. But the player needs customization to handle the encryption and playback.

Vishal Sharma

My expertise focuses on DRM encryption, CDN technologies, and streamlining marketing campaigns to drive engagement and growth. At VdoCipher, I’ve significantly enhanced digital experiences and contributed to in-depth technical discussions in the eLearning, Media, and Security sectors, showcasing a commitment to innovation and excellence in the digital landscape.

The post Top 20 HTML5 Video Player For Your Website in 2024 appeared first on VdoCipher Blog.

What are Live streaming Media Players?

Earlier we used to download media files and used local players to playback the same. Then came the era of streaming where the end user does not need to obtain the entire file for watching or listening to the content. Streaming made it possible to playback the received chunks of the media file in a continuous manner from a client, with little or no intermediate storage in network elements. Real-time application of streaming came to be known as live streaming where there is a real-time delivery of content straight from production.

Live streaming is the method of real-time delivery and playback. It usually refers to broadcast live streams where one-to-many connections go out to multiple users at once. It requires a source media (audio, video), an encoder, distribution network and live streaming player or app for playback. To enhance the capabilities of live streaming platform, we also need CDN, transcoding, multi bitrate file management, buffer management, server load balancing, and a versatile player to incorporate the same. The player needs to switch between different bit rates depending on the screen size and network bandwidth of the end user. The player also handles buffers and refreshes to ensure smooth playback in case of lag and disconnect between the streams.

Advanced live streaming media players also incorporate chat features to make the learning from a stream multi-directional. In this way the host can modify or add additional content based on end user feedback.

Basic Key Steps Involved in Live Streaming

1. Video Capture: This can be done via a video camera, an audio interface or screen capture software.
2. Compression/encoding: Video data undergoes compression by removing redundant visual information, like excluding unchanging backgrounds across frames. This process is similar to rearranging furniture in a room in place of replacing everything with each addition. Similarly, in video streams, only changing elements, like mouth movements, are rendered. “Encoding” compresses data into a different, interpretable digital format for various digital devices. Examples of video encoding standards include H.264, H.265, VP9, and AV1.
3. Segmentation: This is the process of dividing the complete stream into few-second chunks which are fairly easy to distribute. Also, if an alteration is required, the next chunk of right compatibility will be used.
4. Content delivery network (CDN) distribution: Your encoded media files are distributed to multiple global locations to reduce the delivery time and latency. When an end-user request is made, the delivery is made from the nearest global location saving time and resources.
5. CDN caching: A CDN also caches or temporarily saves each chunk of the live stream essentially cutting down round trip time (RTT) from the origin server.
6. Decoding & Video playback: A live streaming media player with its compatible device finally decompresses and decodes the media file segments and the player interprets the visual data for playback.

History of Streaming Media

Early Development (Mid-20th Century – 1990s)

• Initial attempts to display media on computers.
• Commercial Ethernet switch in 1990.

Late 1990s to Early 2000s

• 1993: Severe Tire Damage band’s live internet performance.
• 1995: RealNetworks broadcasted a baseball game and a symphonic concert online.
• On June 24, 1993, the band Severe Tire Damage was the first group to perform live on the Internet.
• 1996: Marc Scarpa’s large-scale online broadcasts.
• Emergence of webcasting as a marketing tool.
• Flash-based video format led to YouTube’s founding in 2005.
• Live streaming was introduced to YouTube in April 2011.

Challenges Faced with Live Streaming Media Players

• Device Compatibility: Many times, live streams throw errors on particular devices or a range of devices. For example, it is usual to have buffering issues on Android devices and everything is smooth on Apple devices and browsers. This can happen due to different protocols being used by both Apple and Google browsers and apps.
• Format Support: since there is a wide range of media formats and codecs for video and audio playback, it is important to handle most of the cases.
• Network Connectivity: Handling fluctuations in internet speed and maintaining stable streaming without buffering needs to be handled through player shifting between different bit rates depending on network and screen sizes.
• User Interface and Experience: user-friendly interfaces with essential features to seek, chat, etc need to be available for better viewer experience.
• Content Licensing and Restrictions: restricting the live feed to specific domains and geography prevents unauthorized usage.

Video and Audio Codecs for Live Streaming

After the video production via camera device or software, a live video needs to be encoded and digitized for efficient transportation across the internet. This process will not only make the data file compatible with devices and will also reduce the size from GBs to MBs via a two part compression tool called codec. Codec also called as coder decoder or compressor decompressor allows shrinking the size and later expands it for playback. Video Codecs take care of the video part and similarly audio codec for audio. H.264, also known as AVC (Advanced Video Coding), is the most common video codec. AAC (Advanced Audio

Coding) is the most common audio codec. Below is a comparison table of Video and Audio codec showing their benefits and limitations.

Video Codecs

Audio Codecs

Recommended Encoder Configurations

To better tackle buffering and stuttering issues, it is better to keep the live streaming encoding settings to an optimal format in place of focusing highly on quality.

• Keyframe Interval: 1 second
• Frame Rate: 29.97/25 fps
• Audio Bitrate: 128-192 kbps
• Adaptive Bitrate Streaming: Yes

Live Streaming Media Players and Adaptive Bitrate

Previously, video content delivery networks (CDN) and broadcasters used to stream videos at a constant bit-rate, regardless of network congestion. In the event that a user’s downstream

bandwidth could not stream enough chunks of a video to maintain continuous playback, the video would stop and the user would have to wait while enough chunks of the video to download in order to resume playback, often with a buffering icon. Adaptive bit-rate streaming was developed as a technique to mitigate this issue. The broadcasters started providing several available bitrates for streaming which the client software can switch between seamlessly. Ideally, the difference between streams is gradual. This way, playback can occur without any noticeable interruptions for the consumer.

In 1998, Microsoft’s Smooth Streaming technology was among the earliest implementations of adaptive streaming. With NetShow Services 3.0, Windows Media Player started to detect deteriorating bandwidth and reduce the frame rate of a video stream or, at worst, stream only audio. This is why Adaptive bitrate streaming depends on both, the live stream player and available multi-bitrate streams which are formed after proper encoding and transcoding.

Live Streaming Players & App for Web, Android and Mac

VdoCipher Live Stream

• Single broadcaster streams to many viewers.
• Live streams can be embedded on the website using the adaptive web player.
• Chat for Viewers – Enable engagement with your users with chat, these chats can be both anonymous and authenticated.
• Automatically initiate, end, as well as manage live streams using our APIs. 
• Live streams are automatically recorded and saved to your VdoCipher dashboard. You can embed these DRM-protected videos on your app or website.
• Use OBS or any other broadcasting software to stream
• Run up to 5 live streams in parallel and much more with an Enterprise account.
• Share multiple screens, and stream through multiple sources via your broadcasting software
• Built over open source shaka player. 
• Dash + HLS protocols used for streaming to ensure best-streaming optimizations & experience.
• Each account has a dedicated streaming server.

Periscope Live Streaming Player for Android

• Map view for location-based video discovery.
• Integration with Twitter for live notifications.
• Ability to save and post videos online separately.
• Chat functions for interaction with viewers.
• Search functionality.
• Broadcast from anywhere with a simple interface.
• Option for private streaming with limited audience access.
• Videos last for 24 hours, with an option to download.
• Not designed for monetization.
• Stream quality can vary based on equipment and setup​

YouTube

• Live streaming available for users over 13 years old.
• Monetization options through ads, Superchat, and Super Stickers.
• High user engagement with long viewing durations.
• Dominant platform for U.S. viewers aged 18-34.
• Simple to start streaming from various devices.
• Features like Super Chat, Super Stickers, YouTube Premieres, and Live Shopping.
• Live streams saved for later viewing.
• No minimum subscriber requirements for streaming from a computer; 50 subscribers needed for mobile streaming

Livestream from Vimeo

• Simple and intuitive functionality.
• Watermark feature for brand consistency.
• Good video player and options to sell products without ads.
• Integration with social media platforms.
• Customizable graphic templates for live streaming.
• Option for secure streaming with more privacy controls.
• Supports a variety of capture hardware and resolutions.
• Stores events in the cloud based on subscription.
• Generally easy to use with a stable application.
• Some challenges with navigating archives and setting up recurring live events

Live Player  – media streaming App for iOS

•     Supports various streaming protocols and media codecs.
•     Hardware-accelerated decoding.
•     Compatible with network storage devices and cloud services.
•     Picture in Picture (PIP) feature.
•     Native ChromeCast and AirPlay support.
•     Subscription plans for ad-free experience and additional features.

VideoJS

• Open source JavaScript framework for creating custom HTML5 video players.
• Supports a wide range of video formats, including HLS streams.
• Compatible with multiple devices.
• Facilitates stream recording with simple additions to the configuration file.
• Suitable for a range of free applications.

FlowPlayer

•     Easy to set up with several configuration options.
•     Good video quality.
•     Works on all browsers and mobile devices.
•     Offers customizable design options.
•     Seamless website integration.
•     Can be expensive with monthly payments.
•     Limited basic plan and higher-tier plans required for additional features.
•     Some reported bugs in specific functionalities

Theoplayer

• Video player customization and skinning.
• Video embeds and widgets that can be custom branded.
• Dynamic bitrate switching for optimal delivery.
• Open APIs and tools for developing a 3rd party video experience or application.

Important Live Streaming Industry & Market Growth Statistics

• The global live-streaming market size was valued at $55.4 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow from $71.63 billion in 2023 to $559.62 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 29.30% during 2023-2032.
• The market grew from $1.24 billion in 2022 to $1.49 billion in 2023, expected to reach $3.21 billion in 2027 at a CAGR of 21.2%.
• Live video streaming revenue is expected to hit $184.27 billion by 2027​
• Live video viewers in the US are forecasted to reach 163.4 million in 2023.
• In 2021, around 548 billion hours were spent streaming through mobile devices.
• Globally, 41% of internet users have watched a live stream​.
• The number of live streams for the online learning industry increased by 120% from 2021 to 2022.
• Watch time for the faith and spirituality industry rose by 300% in a year.
• Average live stream duration increased by 30% in 2021, with total watch time per month at 338K hours.
• Over 50% of people will leave a live stream in less than 90 seconds if the quality is low.

Popular Live Streaming Categories

• Gaming and eSports are among the most popular live-streaming industries, with Twitch being the dominant platform.
• Game live streaming is expected to attract 920 million viewers by 2024.
• Despite a 9% decline in overall live-streaming hours watched from Q2 2022 to Q2 2023, eSports viewership rose by 4.1% from the previous year.
• About 20.6% of people are interested in live-streamed theater shows, while 42% want more live sports events and music concerts.
• In the gaming world, leading platforms amassed around 7.2 billion hours of content watched during the third quarter of 2022.

FAQs

Can I watch Live streaming on my Phone?

Yes, Live video streaming can be easily streamed on both Android and iOS devices through compatible media players and apps. If you have access to the web URL of the live stream, you can also open the same in the mobile browser.

Which encoding settings are good for Live streaming on iOS or Android?

When streaming live from Android, iPhone, and similar devices, ensure your audio and video settings are configured to use the H. 264 video codec and AAC audio codec for optimal results.

References

Live Streaming Market Overview – link

Live Streaming Statistics and Facts – link

Streaming Media Wikipedia – link

Adaptive bitrate streaming – link

Vishal Sharma

My expertise focuses on DRM encryption, CDN technologies, and streamlining marketing campaigns to drive engagement and growth. At VdoCipher, I’ve significantly enhanced digital experiences and contributed to in-depth technical discussions in the eLearning, Media, and Security sectors, showcasing a commitment to innovation and excellence in the digital landscape.

The post Live Streaming Player : Best Media Features for App & Web appeared first on VdoCipher Blog.

To bring versatility, WHATWG (Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group), on 10 April 2007, joined hands with the Mozilla Foundation, Apple, and Opera Software to begin working on HTML5. This new version of the HTML standard included other web elements like video and audio playback natively. This standard is now commonly known as HTML5 and is the most versatile solution available for video playback. Adding javascript makes the player behavior ubiquitous across various browsers by replacing standard controls with complex and advanced ones. In many cases, it is also possible to add video piracy protection to your videos by using advanced and secure video players.

What is a JavaScript Video Player?

As we discussed the empowerment of < video > HTML tag with the use of javascript, the easiest and most versatile way to accomplish that is using Javascript API. This javascript API is available for < video > tag and gets support through the browsers. All the popular players use this Javascript API to add homogeneous customizations to the HTML5 player for different browsers. The javascript API can be used by placing javascript code in the HTML document or by loading the js file from some CDN or cloud access. This code uses the media elements and available methods, properties, and events to add alterations and additional functionality to the basic player.

The < video > tag, in combination with the use of javascript, becomes powerful enough to contain features such as seek, pause, play, captions, switching video quality, and many more. Players can also be coupled with in-HTML CSS or cloud-hosted stylesheets to change the player’s display presets. Moreover, javascript is self-sufficient to make most of the inclusions, and the combined is more often called a javascript video player. We will discuss some technicalities related to javascript API, like elements, methods, properties, etc, and then we will start with the implementation. We will be discussing the addition of basic features through the javascript API, but complex solutions can also be written by combining other available API features.

Why Do You Need A JavaScript Video Player?

The use of flash for web playback is now nearly replaced by video playback using < video > tag. It is supported by most browsers and can play multiple video formats. The main issue with the < video > tag playback is varied rendering. This happens due to the rendered video player’s dependence on the browser for the requested playback. On some browsers, the user will be able to access basic controls; on others, they might find some missing. This generates inconsistent user experience. To handle this issue, < video > element is empowered by using javascript to control the player’s interface by placing custom video controls in the javascript code instead of using the browser’s default. You can place this javascript code in the HTML document or even call it as a JS file from some CDN.

How To Secure Content with JavaScript Video Player?

Any video player requires security if the media content is suspected to be pirated. The hackers have gone so smart that they easily crack basic encryption by revealing the encryption key through easy to medium hacks. You should encrypt via the best algorithm available in your time and, with that, also use the best key exchange management system. These two requirements plug 99% of the piracy cases, leaving apart the screen recording, which requires additional watermarking features.

You can also find javascript codes like the one below to encrypt and decrypt your video files, but they all have to use a “key” parameter.

var encryptor = require('file-encryptor');
var key = 'SUPER-SECRET-KEY';
var options = { algorithm: 'aes256' };
encryptor.encryptFile('myVideoObject.mp4', 'encrypted.dat', key, options, function(err) {
});
encryptor.decryptFile('encrypted.dat', 'outputfile.mp4', key, options, function(err) {
});

This “key” parameter brings us to one more piece of information: “keys” can only be secured if you control the hardware or OS, and that is only possible if you are the hardware or OS provider. In today’s world, most media devices and browsers are controlled by Apple and Google. That is the reason if you are looking for video security, their help is required. The best way to achieve that will be to acquire Google Widevine and Apple Fairplay licenses and set up a DRM server. Also, DRM solution providers like Vdocipher provide multi-DRM services at the most affordable cost, saving you a lot of coding trouble and capital investment.

Multimedia Elements accessible via JavaScript

Before dealing with the use of HTML5 < video > tags and their customizations via javascript, let us know a bit more about multimedia elements. A video file is a container or a Multimedia container format containing different video data like audio, subtitles, metadata, etc. The multimedia container is then compressed with an algorithm or codec like mp4. In most cases, the recent versions of browsers are now compatible with video tags and provide format support to the following.

• .webm extension
• .mp4 extension
• .ogg extension

The < video > tag acts like a < img > tag for displaying an image on the frontend. You can playback multiple supported formats and control the JS player via attributes and for homogeneity via javascript. This < video > tag also provides various APIs like play, pause, change the speed, or seek during video playback and these APIs are directly accessible via javascript. The JS players we usually see, like videojs and other open-source alternatives, have complex javascript to make the rendering common to all viewers. For example, features like switching between video quality and support for multi-language captions are the evolved and necessary demands of today’s world.

The Media Elements which API provides can be categorized as,

• Methods like play() that reads the media
• Properties like currentTime to obtain or modify some properties
• Events like timeupdate to trigger specific behavior for specific media events

How to build a custom JavaScript video player for streaming?

Two categories of the workflow are required for creating a custom javascript video player. One controls the player, and another instantiates those controls with some added HTML elements. Let us discuss both with examples,

Control player’s video with JavaScript

There are 3 methods to control media elements via JavaScript API, they are:

• play() to start or restart playing of media file
• pause() to stop playback at the current location
• load() allows substituting the active video in the player with another

As a method, like functions of an object, to execute them, you need to identify the video through the document.getElementById(id) and then instantiate the method with the dot notation.

For example:

var myVideoObject = document.getElementById ("myVideo");

myVideoObject.play()
myVideoObject.pause()
myVideoObject.load()

In addition, as objects, video elements also have several properties, like,

• currentTime : time at a given time in seconds
• duration : duration of the video file in seconds
• volume : volume level between 0.0 and 1.0

For example:

console.log (myVideoObject.currentTime);
console.log (myVideoObject.duration);
console.log (myVideoObject.volume);

Create controls in HTML5 javascript video player

Using the javascript API’s methods and properties associated with < video > tag, we can easily add custom html5 video controls in place of standard controls by the browser. In the previous section, we discussed using the play, pause, and load method directly with a video object. In that case, the code acts as instantiated, and repeating requires another instantiation. To make it user-friendly, we use HTML handles that can run that code for you. These handles can be buttons, clickable SVGs, or any other interactive HTML element. For example, we will create buttons to access play and pause methods through a button handler. These HTML buttons will access the API through javascript and will enable the required feature.

// Adding Video Tag with multiple source
<video id = "myVideoObject">
<source src = "1920x1080.mp4">
</video>

// Adding the HTML buttons with ID
<button id = "playButton"> Play </button>
<button id = "pauseButton"> Pause </button>

// Adding the JavaScript to identify HTML elements
var myVideoObject = document.getElementById ("myVideoObject");
var playBtn = document.getElementById ("playButton");
var pauseBtn = document.getElementById ("pauseButton");

playButton.onclick = function () {
myVideoObject.play ();
}

pauseButton.onclick = function () {
myVideoObject.pause ();
}

Note: For complex operations, you will have to combine functions of various methods and arrange them in logic to form a complex function.

Adding a Video in JavaScript with multiple sources and subtitles

We have now understood the controls and handler, but adding dynamic information through an API can also be fulfilled through javascript. Media Source Extensions and Source Buffers are used for advanced features to recalibrate the audio and video files separately, etc.

The < video > tag can also be created using a document.createElement(“video”), and then its attributes like source, controls, etc., can be modified. We will discuss an example of creating a video element and modifying it to add multiple sources and subtitles.

// HTML code

<div id="myVideoObject"></div>

// JavaScript code:
var video = document.createElement ("video");
vc.controls = true;
var source1 = document.createElement("source");
source1.src = "video.mp4";
var source2 = document.createElement("source");
source2.src = "video.ogg";
var track1 = document.createElement("track");
track1.kind = "subtitles";
track1.src = "subtitles_en.srt";
track1.label = "English";
track1.srclang = "en";
track1.type = "text/srt";
var track2 = document.createElement("track");
track2.kind = "subtitles";
track2.src = "subtitles_es.srt";
track2.label = "Spanish";
track2.srclang = "br";
track2.type = "text/srt";
vc.appendChild(source1);
vc.appendChild(source2);
vc.appendChild(track1);
vc.appendChild(track2);
cc.appendChild(video);

// Output HTML
<video controls = "">
<source src = "video.mp4">
<source src = "video.ogg">
<track kind = "subtitles" src = "subtitles_en.srt" label = "English" srclang = "en">
<track kind = "subtitles" src = "subtitles_es.srt" label = "English" srclang = "es">
</video>

Note: For complex operations, you will have to use multiple handles, combine functions of various methods, and arrange them in logic to form a complex function.

Best JavaScript or JS video player

There are many javascript players in the market, and many are even open source. Thus, the important decision here of choosing the best one is dependent upon the features it provides. It also depends on your use case; for example, if security is your concern, a secure video player will be the only choice.

VdoCipher – Secure Video Player

VdoCipher provides a JavaScript video player for HTML5 playback with the added advantage of DRM encryption to secure videos from being illegally downloaded. As discussed in the need of security section, the “key” parameter can only be secured if you are in control of the hardware or OS, and that is only possible if you are the hardware or OS provider. In today’s world, most media devices and browsers are controlled by Apple and Google. That is the reason if you are looking for video security, their help is required. VdoCipher is already a partner with Google Widevine and helps you set up a multi-DRM setup for secure video playback. In addition to DRM, VdoCipher also adds a layer of dynamic watermarking and a safety net to deter rooted devices and compromised apps from hacking and screen capture. We’ve also written a blog on how to stream videos on iOS using AVPlayer, do check it out to know more about video streaming in iOS.

Apart from security, VdoCipher smart player has all many more customization features, like,

• Enable Caption Search
• Multi-Language Subtitles
• Adaptive Bitrate Streaming
• Show Progress Bar
• Show Scrubbing Preview
• Auto Resume
• Enable Keyboard Shortcuts
• Primary Color change via Hex color code
• Show Time Text
• Show Quality Control
• Hide Controls on Pause
• Lock Controls
• Enable Save Offline

VideoJS

Video.js is an HTML5 web video player which supports modern streaming file formats such as MP4 and WebM, as well as YouTube, Vimeo, etc. It also supports adaptive bitrate streaming formats like HLS and DASH. It is designed to keep the styling customizations open, thus having a consistent base to build on top of, and can be easily modified with a little bit of extra CSS. This open-source project which was started in mid-2010, supports not only desktop devices but also mobile devices. Users can also use plugin architecture with documentation support to add additional functionalities to the player. The VideoJS community also has hundreds of skins and plugins built-in to be installed for Chromecast, IMA, VR, etc.

Plyr

Plyr is a simple, lightweight, and customizable HTML5 Video player with YouTube and Vimeo media playback support. It is supported on all modern browsers with full VTT captions, responsiveness, monetization options, HLS streaming and playback, API support, keyboard shortcuts, Picture-in-Picture, speed controls, and much more. YouTube and Vimeo playback is supported and functions much like an HTML5 video.

Projekktor

Projekktor is a free and open-source (GPL) HTML5 web video player written in Javascript. It acts similarly for cross-browser player compatibility issues and provides ubiquitous behavior across devices. This HTML5 video player automatically detects the best way to play your favorite video with its impressive and attractive styling elements. You can use the player for your live streaming platform and integrate Pre- & Postroll Ads, build playlists of your videos, stream multiple channels, Youtube HTML5 support, easy to integrate, theme customization, and also comes with Unified Javascript API.

Xgplayer

Xgplayer is an HTML5 video and audio player library designed with separate and detachable UI components. The UI layer is very flexible and has multiple good functionalities for improving video loading, buffering, and multiple file format support for video dependence. It provides features to load control, seamless switching without artifacts, and Adaptive bandwidth for video bandwidth savings. Xgplayer also provides support for plugins which can be divided into two categories: one is self-starting, and another inherits the player’s core class named xgplayer. The official plugins are self-starting, and the packaged third-party libraries get inherited.

FAQs

Can you play mp4 using a JavaScript player?

MP4 file format or MPEG-4 playback is supported by all browsers and is also gets used in video cameras and other video media Hardware. This format was developed by the Moving Pictures Expert Group. This is also the most recommended format by YouTube.

Is it possible to stream audio via a JavaScript player?

Yes, audio can be streamed on a javascript player and can also be separated from the video for handling buffers or adding additional capabilities via javascript.

Can JavaScript handle video piracy through encryption?

JavaScript allows you to use various libraries to encrypt files through aes256 and other algorithms, but this is only partially secure. You need a dynamic key exchange mechanism and encryption like DRM for the best video protection.

Vishal Sharma

My expertise focuses on DRM encryption, CDN technologies, and streamlining marketing campaigns to drive engagement and growth. At VdoCipher, I’ve significantly enhanced digital experiences and contributed to in-depth technical discussions in the eLearning, Media, and Security sectors, showcasing a commitment to innovation and excellence in the digital landscape.

The post JavaScript Video Player for HTML5 Streaming – Create or Choose Best? appeared first on VdoCipher Blog.

Different devices and internet speeds require different video bitrate to be served. Based on device type and your viewer connection, some of you may opt to initiate video streaming at a particular bitrate. You may want to provide playback at a certain quality or constrain network data for users. Video Bitrate, video resolution and video quality can therefore be configured. Below are the steps.

First, Send in an extra parameter while setting up the otp. Append a post parameter called “forcedBitrate”. This need to be an integer. During load time, the player obtains the list of available resolutions from the server. If the forcedBitrate is set, it starts playing the bitrate which is closest to that one.

Example

If you have a video with bitrates created at [300, 900, 1500, 2100].  By default, the player will try to guess the correct bitrate based on a number of factors. If you believe that the default rate should be 900, set the value of forcedBitrate to 900. If the forcedBitrate is set to 1100, then player will calculate the bitrate closest to it and play it. This will ensure that the player will continue playing inspire of any error.

Here is a sample curl command for the otp call with forcedBitrate included:

curl 'http://api.vdocipher.com/v2/otp?video=xxxxxxxxxxxxxx' -H 'Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded' --data 'clientSecretKey=CLIENT_SECRET_KEY&forcedBitrate=1100'

Check the Api Page for more info about VdoCipher APIs.

The post Redirected: Setting desired bitrate for video playback for multiple devices appeared first on VdoCipher Blog.

Now, you can give your viewers an option to stream at different qualities. Many people specially in developing countries do not have the internet speed to stream at highest quality. Giving them options to stream at medium and low quality is a wise decision.

VdoCipher makes this feature special by allowing you to choose the qualities at which you want to stream the videos.  You can contact VdoCipher to decide upon the number of different quality options you want to give your viewer and which qualities to play.

Another unique point of the multi video bitrate streaming player is that it allows changing quality at any point during the playback. The viewer need not re-start the video. The player also supports buffer retention. While seeking back and forth , the buffer remains conserved. This ensures minimal bandwidth usage for you and your viewers. It also adds to the easiness of smooth streaming.

We are listing here at one go the various features which now our player supports.

1. Multiple bitrate – Customizable – stream at different speeds , ensure playback at low internet speeds.
2. Buffer retention – Ensure minimal bandwidth usage and smooth streaming.
3. Responsive layout – Player adjusts according to screen size.
4. Aspect ratio maintenance – Aspect ratio is maintained at all player sizes.
5. Encrypted video streaming – Highest security
6. Play, pause buttons and on-click player.
7. Dynamic watermarking- overlay viewer detail (ip address , mail id , name on player)
8. API, plugin , embed code integration

We are soon rolling out much more customizations with our player. It will allow you to set controls , colors and layout according to your needs.

To start streaming with a secure multi-bitrate player, sign up on VdoCipher and start uploading videos. Contact us on info@vdocipher.com to learn more about this feature.

Siddhant Jain

CEO, VdoCipher. Writes about video tech, ed tech and media tech.

www.vdocipher.com/

The post Multi bitrate streaming player – Stream video at any speed, any quality appeared first on VdoCipher Blog.