Video-on-Demand (VOD) workflow

Video-on-demand (VOD) streaming allows users to access pre-recorded video content at any time, providing a flexible and convenient way to consume media. VOD differs from live streaming in terms of content availability, ingestion, and processing. In VOD, video content is pre-recorded and stored on servers, whereas in live streaming, video content is streamed in real-time as it happens. Resumable HTTP uploads are crucial for efficiently uploading large video files to a VOD platform, allowing users to upload files in chunks and resume from where they left off if interrupted. The upload process involves initiating the upload, uploading chunks, handling interruptions, and completing the upload. Once uploaded, the video undergoes encoding and segmentation before being made available for streaming. When a user requests a VOD video, it is served via HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) or Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH), using adaptive bitrate streaming. VOD platforms can offer high-quality, adaptive streaming experiences by leveraging resumable HTTP uploads, efficient encoding, and segmentation processes. Understanding the workflow and system design behind VOD is crucial for building a robust and scalable streaming platform.