The Internet is no stranger to audio and video. Everyday web applications, such as Netflix and Pandora, stream audio and video content to millions of people. On the other hand, the Web is a stranger to real-time communication. Websites, such as Facebook, are only just starting to enable video-based communication in a browser, and they typically use a plugin that users have to install. This is where Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) comes into play.
In this chapter, we are going to cover the basics of WebRTC:
The current status of the audio and video space
The role that WebRTC plays in changing this space
The major features of WebRTC and how they can be used