Adaptive bitrate streaming in Next.js (video tutorial)

Overview

Learn how to improve video streaming in your Next.js application by adding adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR) using the CldVideoPlayer component from Next Cloudinary. ABR automatically adjusts video quality based on the viewer's network speed and CPU capacity, preventing buffering and keeping playback smooth.

Video tutorial

Tutorial contents

This tutorial presents the following topics. Click a timestamp to jump to that part of the video.

Introduction to Adaptive Streaming

0:00	Adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR) automatically adjusts video quality based on the viewer's network speed and CPU capacity. This prevents buffering and pausing, keeping playback smooth even on slower connections.

How ABR Works

0:36	ABR works by switching between different renditions based on real-time network and device conditions. Instead of buffering at one fixed quality, playback adapts to maintain a smoother viewer experience.

Setting Up in Next.js

1:08	Starting with a basic Next.js application using Next Cloudinary and the CldVideoPlayer component, you can add ABR support with just a few props.

Implementing HLS and DASH

1:50	Add the sourceTypes property to the CldVideoPlayer component with an array containing hls (HTTP Live Streaming) and optionally dash (MPEG-DASH), then apply a streaming profile such as hd using the transformation prop.

Testing the Setup

2:27	To verify ABR is working, use Chrome DevTools to throttle the network speed (e.g., Slow 3G). The video will load briefly then play at a lower quality instead of buffering. You may need to do an empty cache and hard reload when testing locally.

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