In the early days of streaming, the Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) was the de facto standard for transporting video over the internet (or in laymen’s terms, streaming). RTMP is a TCP-based protocol designed to maintain persistent, low-latency connections — and by extension, smooth streaming experiences.
The protocol started out as the secret sauce behind live and on-demand streaming with Adobe Flash Player. Because this popular Flash plugin powered 98% of internet browsers in its heyday, RTMP was used ubiquitously.
The majority of encoders today can transmit RTMP, and most media servers can receive it. Even big social media players like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch accept it. However, RTMP streams run into compatibility issues when it comes to playback on popular browsers and devices.
In this article, we’ll look at the RTMP specification, the history behind RTMP streaming, how to start streaming with an RTMP encoder, and alternative protocols to consider.