Glossary
RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol)
RTSP, the Real-Time Streaming Protocol, is a network control protocol defined in RFC 2326 that establishes and controls streaming media sessions between a server and a client. It issues commands (Play, Pause, Teardown) while the media itself travels over RTP.
General definition
RTSP functions like a TV remote for streaming: it negotiates the session and sends control commands, but does not carry the media data itself. The actual audio and video payload travels over RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol), usually on a separate UDP or TCP connection. This separation of signalling from media is a defining characteristic of RTSP.
- VCR-style control commands: DESCRIBE, SETUP, PLAY, PAUSE, RECORD, TEARDOWN
- Typically operates on port 554
- Low latency because it streams media directly rather than downloading files
- Common in IP cameras, CCTV systems, and legacy media servers
RTSP is widely used in security cameras, surveillance systems, and embedded media devices. For browser-based delivery, it has been largely superseded by HLS and WebRTC, because browsers do not natively support RTSP and require plugins or server-side transcoding to bridge the gap.
In the Ethora ecosystem
Ethora’s voice and video calling is built on WebRTC, which runs natively in browsers and mobile apps without the plugin requirements of RTSP. RTSP is relevant in Ethora deployments when integrating with IP cameras or security feeds, where a media bridge transcodes RTSP streams for delivery to the Ethora client.
Teams running Ethora on their own infrastructure have full control over any RTSP ingestion pipeline, enabling integration of existing camera infrastructure into a unified communication and messaging platform, which is relevant for industrial, facility management, or clinical monitoring use cases.
