An adaptive bitrate streaming protocol that works similarly to HLS but is an open international standard rather than a proprietary format.
MPEG-DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) is an international standard for adaptive bitrate streaming, ratified by ISO. Like HLS, it breaks video into small segments and uses a manifest file to let the player switch between quality levels based on network conditions. The key difference is that DASH is codec-agnostic and an open standard, while HLS was developed by Apple and originally tied to specific codecs.
DASH uses an XML-based manifest called an MPD (Media Presentation Description) instead of HLS's M3U8 playlist. The MPD describes all available quality levels (called representations), organized into adaptation sets for video, audio, and subtitles. Each representation is split into segments that the player downloads sequentially.
The adaptive logic works the same way as HLS: the player monitors bandwidth and switches between representations to balance quality and buffering. DASH supports a wider range of segment formats and can use any codec, giving platform builders more flexibility.
In practice, DASH and HLS have converged significantly. Both support similar codecs, both use HTTP delivery, and both achieve comparable performance. The main practical difference is device support: Apple devices natively support HLS but not DASH (DASH requires a JavaScript player like dash.js), while Android and most smart TVs support both. For web delivery, most platforms use HLS as the primary format because of its broader native support.
DASH matters primarily for platforms that need codec flexibility or must comply with standards that require an open, non-proprietary protocol. For most business video use cases, HLS and DASH produce equivalent results, and the choice comes down to device support requirements. Many large platforms generate both formats to maximize compatibility.
host.video uses HLS as its primary streaming protocol, which provides the broadest device and browser compatibility. HLS with adaptive bitrate streaming covers the needs of virtually every business video use case.