IPTV Glossary: Key Terms Explained

IPTV comes with its own set of terminology. Here's a quick-reference glossary for the terms you'll encounter most often while setting up and using the service.

M3U

A playlist file format that lists channel and stream URLs. Many IPTV player apps accept an M3U link as a fast way to load an entire channel list at once. See our M3U playlists guide for more detail.

EPG

Electronic Program Guide — the on-screen schedule showing what's currently airing and what's coming up next on each channel.

Xtream Codes

A common login format for IPTV player apps, using a username, password, and server URL instead of a single playlist link. Functionally, it achieves the same result as an M3U link.

Buffering

A pause in playback while your device waits for more video data to download. Usually related to internet speed or connection stability — see our buffering troubleshooting guide.

Bitrate

The amount of data used to encode each second of video. Higher bitrates generally mean better picture quality but require more bandwidth to stream smoothly.

VOD

Video on demand — content you choose to watch at any time, as opposed to live channels that follow a broadcast schedule.

Putting it together

Once these terms feel familiar, setup becomes much more intuitive. Ready to try it yourself? Check our installation guides or compare Xtremes IPTV plans.