What Is Keyframe (I-Frame)?
A complete video frame that doesn't reference other frames. Streaming platforms require keyframes every 2 seconds.
A keyframe (also called an I-frame or Intra-frame) is a complete image stored in the video stream. Between keyframes, only the differences between frames are stored (P-frames and B-frames), which saves space. Streaming platforms require keyframes at regular intervals (typically every 2 seconds) so viewers can join the stream at any point and immediately see a complete image. In OBS, set your Keyframe Interval to 2 seconds for Twitch, YouTube, and Kick.
Try It Yourself
Related Terms
B-Frames (Bidirectional Frames)
Video frames that reference both previous and future frames for better compression. Setting 2 B-frames is standard for streaming.
Encoding
The process of compressing raw video data into a smaller format using a codec like H.264, HEVC, or AV1.
Bitrate
The amount of data processed per second in a video or audio stream, measured in Kbps or Mbps.