20 Video Streaming Interview Questions and Answers

Video streaming is a process of delivering video content over the internet in real-time. It has become increasingly popular in recent years as a result of advances in technology and the proliferation of high-speed internet access.

If you’re applying for a position that involves video streaming, it’s likely that you’ll be asked some technical questions about the process during your interview. In this article, we’ll review some of the most common questions that are asked about video streaming, and how you can answer them.

Video Streaming Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked Video Streaming interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is video streaming?

Video streaming is a process where video is encoded and then sent in a continuous stream over the internet to a user. The user is able to watch the video as it is being streamed, without having to wait for the entire video to download first.

2. Can you explain the overall process of video streaming?

The process of video streaming can be broken down into a few key steps. First, the video file is encoded into a format that can be streamed across the internet. Next, the video file is divided into small pieces, or packets, which are then sent to the user. The user’s computer then reassembles the packets into a video file that can be played. Finally, the video file is played back for the user.

3. What are some examples of services that use video streaming?

There are many services that use video streaming, including but not limited to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube.

4. What are some common formats used for video streaming?

Some common formats used for video streaming are MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, and Theora.

5. How does video streaming work on mobile devices?

Video streaming on mobile devices typically works through a process called adaptive bitrate streaming. This means that the video quality is automatically adjusted based on the strength of the internet connection. This ensures that the video will not stop and start as the connection fluctuates, and that the best possible quality is always delivered.

6. What’s the difference between progressive and adaptive video streaming?

Progressive video streaming downloads the entire video file before it can start playing, while adaptive video streaming downloads small pieces of the video file and then starts playing immediately. Adaptive video streaming is more efficient because it doesn’t require the entire video file to be downloaded before it can start playing, but it can result in lower video quality because the video is being downloaded in small pieces.

7. What do you understand about HTTP delivery protocols in context with video streaming?

There are a few different types of HTTP delivery protocols that can be used for video streaming. The most common are progressive download and adaptive bitrate streaming.

Progressive download is the simplest type of HTTP delivery protocol. With progressive download, the video file is downloaded from a server and played back by the client. The client does not need to do anything special to receive the video file, and the video can be played back while it is still downloading. However, progressive download has a few drawbacks. First, the video must be downloaded in its entirety before it can be played back. This can lead to long delays if the video file is large. Second, the video quality can vary depending on the user’s internet connection. If the connection is slow, the video will be low quality.

Adaptive bitrate streaming is a more sophisticated type of HTTP delivery protocol. With adaptive bitrate streaming, the video file is divided into small chunks. These chunks are then downloaded from the server and played back by the client. The client can adapt the bitrate of the video based on the user’s internet connection. This means that the video quality will be consistent, even if the connection is slow. However, adaptive bitrate streaming requires special software on the client side, and it is more complicated to set up than progressive download.

8. What are real-time transport protocol (RTP) packets? Why are they important?

RTP packets are important for video streaming because they allow for the real-time transport of data. This is essential for video streaming, as it allows for a smooth and uninterrupted video experience. RTP packets are also used for audio streaming, making them an important part of any multimedia experience.

9. How is adaptive bitrate streaming different from other types of streaming?

Adaptive bitrate streaming is a type of streaming that automatically adjusts the bitrate of a video based on the available bandwidth. This ensures that the video quality is always the best possible given the available conditions. Other types of streaming, such as progressive download, do not automatically adjust the bitrate and as a result the video quality can suffer if the bandwidth is not sufficient.

10. Can you explain what a multimedia container format is?

A multimedia container format is a file format that can store and play back multiple types of multimedia data, such as audio, video, and text. Common examples of multimedia container formats include MP4, AVI, and MKV.

11. What are some popular multimedia container formats?

Some popular multimedia container formats include AVI, MP4, and MOV.

12. What is a codec? What role does it play in video streaming?

A codec is a computer program that is used to compress or decompress digital video or audio files. Codecs are an important part of video streaming because they allow the video to be compressed so that it can be transmitted more quickly and efficiently over the internet.

13. What do you know about h264, VP9, and H265 codecs?

There are a few different codecs that are commonly used for video streaming, and h264, VP9, and H265 are three of the most popular. h264 is a fairly old codec, but it is still widely used because it is very efficient. VP9 is a newer codec that is designed to be even more efficient than h264, and it is becoming increasingly popular. H265 is the newest codec, and it is designed to be even more efficient than VP9.

14. Why are codecs important for video streaming?

Codecs are important for video streaming because they are responsible for compressing and decompressing the video data so that it can be transmitted efficiently. Without codecs, video streaming would be very slow and would use up a lot of bandwidth.

15. What are some advantages and disadvantages of using Adobe Flash Player technology for video streaming?

Some advantages of using Adobe Flash Player technology for video streaming include its wide availability (most web browsers have a Flash Player plugin installed) and its ability to scale video quality based on the user’s connection speed. Some disadvantages include its potential for security vulnerabilities and the fact that it is not compatible with all devices (e.g. Apple iOS devices).

16. What do you think about HTML5 video streaming? Do you think it will be able to replace Adobe Flash soon?

I think HTML5 video streaming is a great step forward for the web. It is more efficient and standards-based than Flash, and it has the potential to be much more widely adopted than Flash. I don’t think it will replace Flash overnight, but I think it has a good chance of eventually becoming the dominant video streaming technology.

17. What are some challenges faced when delivering video content over a network?

One challenge is that video files tend to be large, so it can take a long time to download them. Another challenge is that video streaming requires a lot of bandwidth, so it can be difficult to deliver a high-quality video stream to everyone who wants to watch it. Finally, video streaming can be disrupted by network congestion, so it can be difficult to ensure that everyone who wants to watch a video stream is able to do so.

18. How do you ensure smooth video playback even at low internet speeds?

One way to ensure smooth video playback even at low internet speeds is to use a technique called adaptive bitrate streaming. This technique involves constantly monitoring the user’s internet connection speed and then automatically adjusting the video quality accordingly. This way, the video will always be of the best possible quality for the user’s current connection speed, and playback should be smooth even at low speeds.

19. Is it possible to stream video directly from a website without any plugins or extensions? If yes, how?

Yes, it is possible to stream video directly from a website without any plugins or extensions. The HTML5 video element allows for video playback directly in the web browser without the need for any third-party plugins or extensions. In order to do this, the website must have a video file encoded in a format that is supported by the HTML5 video element, such as MP4.

20. What kind of technologies can be used to deliver streaming videos to mobile devices?

There are a few different ways to stream video to mobile devices. One option is to use HTML5, which has built-in support for video streaming. Another option is to use a dedicated video streaming app, which can be developed for specific platforms like iOS or Android. Finally, you can use a video streaming service that is optimized for mobile devices, like YouTube or Netflix.