Streaming is a technique for transferring data such that it can be processed as a steady and continuous stream. Streaming technologies are widely used in transmitting large multimedia (voice, video, and data) files in a fast way. With streaming, the client browser or plug-in can start displaying the multimedia data before the entire file has been transmitted.

Streaming is a technique of multi-media data transfer in a regular and continuous flow (stream) via Internet based on request and in real time. The streaming is a principle making it possible to the user to progressively read audio and video contents while it is being remotely loaded live or preloaded.

This directly contrasts a static model of data delivery, where all the data is delivered to the client machine prior to actual use. For this whole process to work properly, the client browser must receive the data from the server and pass it to the streaming application for processing. The streaming application converts the data into sounds (or pictures). An important factor in the success of this process is the ability of the client to receive data faster than the application can display the information. Excess data is stored in a buffer — an area of memory reserved for data storage within the application. If the data is delayed in transfer between the two systems, the buffer empties and the presentation of the material will not be smooth.

The streaming server (installed at the same time as the Web server) must know how to manage the adaptation and the optimization of flow and the contents, the quality of service. The adaptation to the network and the terminal must be done in real time. Distribution networks of mobile contents are developed based on the content delivery networks model of the Internet. At the networks borders, close to the user, the multimedia servers manage part of the distribution and adaptation to the user context.