Application Program Interface (API) - This term describes an organized method for arranging communications between multiple computer programs, between multiple modules of a single program or between multiple software entities upon a communications network such as the Internet. For WebRTC, the API is based on Javascript and is being standardized by the Worldwide Web Consortium.
Audio Codec - This is a method of encoding audio and is typically used for communication over networks. Audio codecs usually can represent a broader spectrum of sounds than voice codecs, so they can be used for applications such as encoding music for replay and streaming.
IETF - This is the Internet Engineering Task Force. It is a group which develops standards (called RFCs) for use on networks such as the Internet which use the TCP/IP and other IP network protocols. (see RFC).
Informational RFC - This is a Request for Comments (RFC) document which is for informational use only and is not a standard.
MTI - This is an acronym which is short for Mandatory to Implement. The IETF has been having discussions on the topic of Mandatory to Implement codecs for audio and video.
Recommendation - This is the term used by W3C to describe international standards approved by its members (e.g. the W3C HTML5 recommendation).
RFC - This is short for Request For Comment. It is the term used by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) for Internet standards documents and other published information.
Standards Track - This is the term used by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) for draft documents which are being targeted for Internet standardization and completed RFCs which have become standards.
Video Codec - This is a method of encoding video and is typically used for communication over networks. Video codecs can represent video using a variety of different algorithms. Video codecs can be used for applications such as video chat, video conferencing, gaming and video streaming. Video codecs are usually used in concert with audio codecs in order to provide a multimedia experience which includes both video and audio content.
Voice Codec - This is a method of encoding voice and is typically used for communication over networks. Voice codecs model the characteristics of speech, so they are useful for voice communications, but are not optimized for more general audio communications.
W3C - This is the Worldwide Web Consortium, founded by the worldwide web inventor Tim Berners-Lee. The W3C is a member-based standards organization that produces documents that define web technologies. The resulting standards are called Recommendations.
Links to the websites of standards organizations
Home | What's New?
| About HC | Publications and
Services | Order Forms
Publications | Consulting Services
| Fax Class Info | Fax Glossary
| Press Releases