IPTV Glossary: Key Terms Explained

IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television: TV channels and on-demand content delivered over an internet connection. For the full explanation, read What Is IPTV and How Does It Work?.

The rest of this glossary covers the terms you are most likely to see in app menus, provider emails, and setup guides. Definitions are kept short. Each one links to a longer article where that topic is covered in full.

Live TV refers to channels broadcast in real time. You join whatever is airing now. VOD (video on demand) refers to a library of titles you can start whenever you choose. The difference is covered in What Is VOD?.

Catch-up lets you watch a programme that has already aired on a channel, usually for a limited period set by the provider. Availability and length of that window depend on the service.

Provider is the company or service that supplies your channels and account. Subscription is the paid access you agree to with that provider, and it sets what your plan includes.

Player or app is the software on your device that opens the content your provider supplies. It does not provide channels by itself. Setup guides such as How to Set Up IPTV on Firestick show how this fits together.

Playlist is a list of channels, usually in a text-based format. M3U is one common playlist format. Your provider supplies the playlist or login details for your own account. Playlists found publicly online are not a safe or supported substitute for a subscription, so do not rely on them.

Login details can be a playlist link, or a username, password, and server address, depending on how the provider set up your account. Keep them private.

EPG (electronic programme guide) is the schedule shown for each channel. Not every lineup includes one. See IPTV EPG Explained for how it loads and why times can look wrong.

Codec is the method used to compress video so it can be sent over a connection. Common examples include H.264 and H.265. The codec a stream uses affects which devices can play it smoothly.

Resolution describes how many pixels make up the picture, for example HD, Full HD, or 4K. The resolution a channel is actually delivered in depends on the source and the service, not only on your screen.

Buffering is when the player pauses to load more data before continuing. It usually points to the connection or the stream, not the app. The full list of causes is in the IPTV Troubleshooting Guide.

Latency is the delay between what happens in a live event and when it appears on your screen. Live streams usually run behind the real broadcast, and the amount varies by service and device.

When you read a provider's instructions, match each term to one of the groups above. If a term is still unclear, the linked article gives the full picture. Terms vary slightly between apps, so the labels on your own screen may differ from the wording here.