What Is Buffering?
When a viewer's player pauses to download more data because the stream bitrate exceeds their download speed.
Buffering occurs when a viewer's internet connection can't download stream data fast enough to play it in real-time. This is usually caused by the streamer's bitrate being too high for some viewers' connections. On Twitch, streaming above 6,000 Kbps without transcoding means viewers with slow connections will buffer. The solution is to keep bitrate within platform recommendations or ensure transcoding is available so viewers can select a lower quality option.
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Related Terms
Bitrate
The amount of data processed per second in a video or audio stream, measured in Kbps or Mbps.
Latency (Stream Delay)
The time delay between something happening on your screen and viewers seeing it. Typically 2-15 seconds for live streams.
Transcoding
Converting a video from one codec, resolution, or bitrate to another. Streaming platforms transcode your stream to offer multiple quality options.