Streaming MP3 files

[tamia]

Can anyone explain to me what a streaming MP3 file is? Whats the difference of the streaming MP3 file to an ordinary MP3 file?

[PamJazz]

Streaming is a delivery method for live materials like MP3 audio files or for videos. You can play the audio and video files directly from a network or site. The files are not saved in your pc.

Streaming these files undergo buffering. In this way, when a file is streamed, it is played entirely over the network or site. So, your player software temporarily stores some of the stream. It takes a few minutes until the audio or video files will be complete. When buffering reaches 100%, then you're able to listen or view your files without delay.

There are different streaming players such as QuickTime, Div X, Real and Windows Media. Each works differently because some use different formats or codecs. It depends on what kind of format or codec is available for the audio or video file being compressed. Some codecs are open standards while others are proprietary.