Enveu Media & OTT Glossary
A practical knowledge base for OTT platforms, streaming tech, monetization, playback, analytics, DRM, FAST, and media operations. Use A–Z to browse or search to jump to a term.
A practical knowledge base for OTT platforms, streaming tech, monetization, playback, analytics, DRM, FAST, and media operations. Use A–Z to browse or search to jump to a term.
Buffering occurs when video playback pauses to load more data.
Buffering occurs when video playback temporarily pauses in order to load additional video data before continuing. It happens when the video player cannot download content fast enough to maintain smooth playback.
Frequent buffering is one of the most visible and frustrating issues for viewers. It directly impacts user satisfaction, increases drop-offs, and contributes to higher churn, especially during live events or long-form viewing sessions.
Buffering can be caused by poor network conditions, insufficient bandwidth, high latency, inefficient CDN delivery, or overly aggressive video quality selection. OTT platforms work to minimize buffering by optimizing bitrate ladders, buffering strategies, and delivery infrastructure.
Buffering is tracked through player analytics and Quality of Experience (QoE) metrics such as rebuffering rate, rebuffer duration, and startup buffering. These metrics help teams identify playback issues across devices, networks, and regions.