Glossary
Streaming, like any other industry, has its own unique vocabulary which can be daunting to navigate or have different interpretations outside of the community.
The glossary below is a crash course in live streaming (services, functionalities and tips) essential if you want to stream yourself or connect with streamers. It contains most of the commonly used words and terms in the live streaming ecosystems as well as some more niche terms which I felt were valuable for the charity sector specifically. My aim in providing this list is to help with the first foundation for charities to get into the streaming world with confidence and knowledge, and to engage with streamers in a more authentic and connected way.
If you think there are additional terms that should be included in this glossary, please feel free to submit your suggestions to hello@levelupjake.com.
A
Ad Revenue: Earnings generated by displaying advertisements during a live stream. Streamers on platforms like YouTube Gaming or Twitch can earn ad revenue based on the number of viewers and impressions.
Affiliate Program: A program offered by platforms like Twitch that allows streamers to earn money through ads, subscriptions, and donations. To become an affiliate, streamers need to meet specific criteria, such as reaching a certain number of followers or streaming hours.
Alerts – Notifications that pop up on stream when viewers perform certain actions, such as donating, subscribing, or following.
Alt Stream: A secondary or backup stream channel often used by content creators when their main channel is unavailable or to stream different types of content that may not fit their main channel's theme.
Auctions (Tiltify): A fundraising feature to set up an auction house in order to raise funds through bidding on donated items or experiences, creating excitement and competition among donors.
Audio Delay: A lag between the audio and video in a stream, which can disrupt the viewing experience. Streamers often adjust settings to sync audio and video properly to avoid such delays.
Audio Mixer: A tool used by streamers to control the sound levels of different audio sources, such as game sound, microphone input, and background music, ensuring the best audio balance during a stream.
B
Bit: A virtual currency on streaming platforms like Twitch, used by viewers to show support for streamers through donations. Bits can be used to trigger special alerts, animations, or other interactive features in a stream.
Bitrate: The amount of data being transmitted per second during a stream, usually measured in kilobits per second (Kbps). A higher bitrate means better video quality but requires a stronger internet connection.
Bot: A software program used to automate tasks on a stream, such as moderating chat or delivering alerts. Common bots include Nightbot and Streamlabs.
Bounty Board: A program by some platforms, like Twitch, that provides streamers with opportunities to earn money by promoting specific games or brands during their streams. Streamers complete specific tasks (like playing a certain game) to earn rewards.
Branded Content: Content that is sponsored or created in collaboration with a brand, company or charity. Streamers may integrate branded content into their streams by promoting products, services or just branded overlays and links in exchange for compensation.
Broadcasting: The act of transmitting live video and audio to an online platform. Streamers use broadcasting software like OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) or Streamlabs to broadcast their gameplay or other content to services like Twitch, YouTube Gaming, or Facebook Gaming.
Levelupjaketips: Bot - Streamers can set up an automation which highlights the charity, donation links and important charity information in their chat which can be triggered by time or by a custom hashtag. Make sure your streamers have what they need from you to do this effortlessly.
C
Channel Points: A feature on Twitch that allows viewers to earn points by watching streams. Viewers can redeem these points for rewards, such as custom emotes or actions triggered by the streamer, enhancing the interactive experience.
Chat: The live text communication feature that allows viewers to interact with the streamer and other viewers during a live stream. Streamers often engage with their audience through chat, reading and responding to comments and questions in real-time.
Chatbot: An automated program used by streamers to manage and interact with their chat. Chatbots can perform tasks such as moderating comments, providing information, or responding to viewer commands.
Clipper: A tool or feature that allows users to create short, shareable clips from live streams. Viewers can clip a moment from the stream and share it on social media, helping to spread awareness and highlight key moments.
Clips: Short, shareable segments of a live stream that capture a specific moment, such as a funny, exciting, or dramatic event. Streamers or viewers can create clips to highlight memorable moments and share them on social media or within the platform.
Collaboration Stream: A live stream where multiple streamers interact with each other, often playing games together or discussing topics, on platforms like Twitch or YouTube Gaming. These streams help foster a sense of community among creators and viewers.
Console Streaming: Streaming gameplay directly from a video game console (e.g., PlayStation, Xbox) rather than from a PC. This allows console gamers to share their gameplay with viewers without the need for additional hardware or complex setups. These types of streams are much more simple than streams involving third party streaming software.
Custom Emotes: Special, often personalized, images or symbols that are used in chat as reactions or expressions. Streamers can create custom emotes for their subscribers, giving fans a unique way to engage with the streamer's content.
Levelupjake tip: Custom Emotes - As part of your streamer supporter package, why not create some custom emotes for your long term streaming supporters/ambassadors, so that their communities can represent you more authentically in chat.
D
Dashboard: A control panel on streaming platforms like Twitch or YouTube Gaming where streamers can manage their stream settings, monitor real-time statistics, and interact with their audience during the broadcast.
Direct Message (DM): Private messages sent between streamers and viewers or between creators. DMs are often used for one-on-one interactions, collaborations, or answering viewer questions outside of public chat.
Discord: A popular communication app and community platform often used by streamers to build and manage a community outside of streaming platforms. Streamers can create servers for their followers to interact, chat, and share content.
Donation: Money contributed by viewers to a streamer or charity during a live stream. Donations can be made via platforms like PayPal or directly through stream platforms' integrated donation systems.
Donation Alert: A notification that appears on-screen when a viewer donates to a streamer. This is typically set up through services like Streamlabs or StreamElements, and it often includes a visual effect or sound to thank the donor.
Doxxing (Dox): The malicious act of publicly revealing private or personal information about someone without their consent. On streaming platforms, doxxing can be a serious violation of privacy and is often condemned and punished by platform moderators. Streamers can accidentally “dox” themselves when switching between stream scenes which can lead them to show something they don’t intend to.
Drop (Twitch): A reward, such as in-game items or bonuses, given to viewers for watching a stream. Twitch Drops often require viewers to link their accounts with specific games.
Dynamic Overlay: A customisable, real-time graphic overlay used by streamers to display important information during their stream, such as alerts, follower counts, or live game stats. Dynamic overlays often change based on stream events or viewer interactions.
Levelupjake tip: Discord - Comms/social teams can something be reluctant to add video game or streaming related content to their existing schedule because they A) don't fully understand the value or purpose (yet) and will need time to get onboard, or B) They don’t want to dilute the core messaging or feel it doesn't align… Another way to make sure you can engage your new streaming audience without hitting internal barriers for other preexisting social platforms is to use a different/new platform and discord is a great channel for comms for this audience. It’s easy to set up but it is a unique channel and will take some time and exploration to get the hang of it and utilise it effectively.
E
Emote: Custom images or animated gifs that viewers can use in chat to express emotions or reactions. Streamers often have their own set of emotes that can be unlocked by viewers who subscribe to their channel.
Engagement: The level of interaction between the streamer and their audience, including chat activity, comments, and participation in activities like polls or giveaways. High engagement often leads to a stronger community.
Exclusive Content: Content that is only available to a select group, such as subscribers, followers, or Patreon supporters. Streamers often offer exclusive content as a reward for supporting them through donations or subscriptions.
Emote Wall: A display or collection of emotes in a streamer’s chat or overlay, often used during special events or milestones. The emote wall encourages viewers to spam emotes to celebrate or interact with the streamer showing nothing else except emotes in chat.
F
Fandom: The community of viewers who follow a specific streamer or gaming community.
Featured Stream: A live stream that is highlighted or promoted by the platform, such as Twitch’s “Featured” section, which helps attract new viewers and increase the visibility of the stream.
Feature Request: A suggestion made by streamers or viewers for new tools, updates, or improvements to a streaming platform. Streamers may submit feature requests to improve the user experience or add specific functionalities that benefit their content.
Followers: Viewers who choose to follow a streamer on platforms like Twitch or YouTube Gaming. Following a channel allows viewers to receive notifications when a streamer goes live, keeping them connected to their content.
Follow-for-Follow: A practice where a viewer follows a streamer or fellow viewer in exchange for the streamer/viewer following them back. While sometimes used for growth, this practice is generally discouraged by streaming platforms as it doesn’t reflect genuine engagement.
Frame Rate (FPS): The number of frames per second a video displays. A higher FPS (e.g., 60 FPS) provides smoother visuals, which is particularly important for high-action games or competitive streaming.
G
Game Capture: The process of capturing the gameplay video from a gaming console or PC to broadcast it on a live streaming platform. Streamers use capture cards or software tools like OBS to record and stream their gameplay.
Gifting Subscriptions (Twitch): The act of purchasing a subscription for another viewer, giving them access to emotes, ad-free viewing, and other perks.
Giveaway: A promotional activity where streamers offer prizes to their viewers, typically in exchange for actions like following the channel, subscribing, or donating. Giveaways often increase viewer engagement.
Goal (Tiltify): A fundraising target set by the streamer or charity on Tiltify, showing how much money has been raised toward a specific cause and how much that streamer hopes to raise by the end of their fundraiser.
Go Live: The action of starting a live broadcast on platforms like Twitch or YouTube Gaming. When a streamer clicks "Go Live", their stream becomes accessible to viewers in real time.
Goal Progress Bar: A visual representation of how close a streamer is to achieving a specific goal, such as a donation target or follower milestone. Goal progress bars are commonly shown on the stream layout to encourage viewers to contribute toward reaching the goal.
Guest Streamer: A streamer who is invited by another content creator to appear on their stream as a guest. Guest streamers can participate in gaming sessions, interviews, or discussions, often broadening the reach of both streamers’ audiences.
Games Done Quick (GDQ): A series of charity events that feature speedrunners completing video games as quickly as possible, often with creative or unconventional techniques. These events are streamed live, and viewers can watch talented speedrunners attempt to break records or complete games in record time.
Levelupjake tip: Guest Streamer - Sometimes streamers might want a member of the charity they are fundraising for to join the stream either in chat or on video for either a small intro or a more engaging and longer segment. Offering this to your streamers could be a great way to get more engagement from this audience.
H
Host: A feature on Twitch where one streamer can showcase another streamer's channel on their own profile. This is often used as a form of support or collaboration between streamers.
Hot Tub Streams: A genre of live streams where the streamer broadcasts from a hot tub or pool, often focusing on casual chatting or interaction with the audience. This genre gained popularity on platforms like Twitch, though it has been a topic of controversy.
Hype: The excitement or enthusiasm surrounding a streamer, their content, or a specific event. Streamers often build hype around their streams through teasers, countdowns, and special announcements.
Hype Train (Twitch): A feature on Twitch that activates when viewers collectively contribute through subscriptions, bits, or raids within a short time frame. It progresses through levels as more support is given, rewarding participants with special emotes and badges.
I
Idle Time: The period during which a stream or gameplay session remains inactive, often caused by the streamer stepping away from the screen or taking a break. Streamers may use this time to display a “BRB” (Be Right Back) screen or engage in other off-camera activities.
In-Game Overlay: A graphical display overlaid on the game screen during a stream, often showing alerts, donations, and viewer counts.
Instant Replay: A feature that allows streamers to show a previous moment from the stream in real-time, often triggered by exciting or significant events. Instant replays allow viewers to see highlights without having to wait for edited clips.
In-Stream Ads: Advertisements that appear during a live broadcast. Streamers can often control when and how these ads appear, with ads being a source of revenue on platforms like YouTube Gaming.
Interactives: Tools that allow streamers to directly interact with viewers during a stream. This could include polls, chat commands, or games that viewers can participate in or influence.
Invite-Only Stream: A stream that requires an invite to access, often used for private events, exclusive content, or collaborative streams. Only invited viewers or members can watch the stream, creating a sense of exclusivity.
IP (Intellectual Property): The legal rights over a creative work, such as music, artwork, or a game. Streamers must be careful when using copyrighted material during their streams, as it can lead to copyright strikes or other penalties.
IP Ban: A type of ban that blocks a specific user from accessing a streaming platform or a particular stream based on their IP address. This method is often used to prevent disruptive behaviour or harassment by banning users at the network level
IRL Stream (In Real Life Stream): A type of stream where the content creator broadcasts activities or interactions from their real life, rather than playing games. IRL streams often involve walking around, chatting with viewers, or participating in non-gaming activities like cooking, travel, or socialising.
J
Jingle Jam: An annual charity event hosted by the Yogscast, a popular group of YouTubers and streamers. The event typically takes place in December and involves a series of live streams, gaming sessions, and collaborative content created by the Yogscast and other guest streamers. During Jingle Jam, viewers are encouraged to donate to charity in exchange for various incentives, including special content, in-game rewards, or exclusive access to streams. The event has raised millions of dollars for various charitable causes over the years, making it one of the biggest charity streaming events in the gaming community.
Joint Stream: A live stream where multiple streamers broadcast together, often sharing the same screen or playing games cooperatively. Joint streams are popular for collaboration, boosting engagement across different audiences.
Jukebox: A feature or bot used in streaming to play music for viewers. Some streamers allow viewers to request songs or music through donations, using a Jukebox-style feature to manage the playlist during the stream.
Jump-Scare: A gameplay mechanic or moment in horror games where something sudden and frightening occurs. Jump-scares are often a source of entertainment in streams, as viewers react to the streamer’s reactions.
Just Chatting: A popular category on streaming platforms like Twitch, where streamers engage in casual conversations with their audience rather than playing games. It’s often a space for streamers to connect personally with their viewers, discuss various topics, and share experiences.
K
Kappa (Twitch): A popular emote on Twitch used to indicate sarcasm, irony, or joking. It features the face of a former Twitch employee, Josh DeSeno, and is often used in chat to signal that a message is not to be taken seriously.
L
Lag: The delay between a streamer's action in-game and the visual representation of that action on the stream. Lag can be frustrating for both the streamer and viewers, especially in competitive gaming.
Leaderboard: A ranking of players or teams based on their performance in a game or event. Streamers often compete for a high position on the leaderboard or use it to challenge themselves and their audience.
Livestream: A real-time video broadcast that is transmitted over the internet. Platforms like Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Facebook Gaming allow creators to livestream various content such as gaming, Q&A sessions, and creative work.
Loot: Rewards or in-game items that can be earned by participating in streams or special events.
Lurker: A viewer who watches a stream without interacting through chat or social media. Lurkers contribute to the overall viewership but tend to remain passive in the community.
M
Match donation (Tiltify): A fundraising feature to encourage larger donations with a matching donation feature, where sponsors or donors double the impact of contributions or match a fundraising milestone.
Milestone (Tiltify): A fundraising feature to add key fundraising goals along your overall campaign goal that trigger celebrations or unlock new rewards when reached, adding excitement and a sense of communal achievement.
Modded Stream: A stream where a streamer plays a modified version of a game, often with custom features, additional content, or unique rules. Modding a game can create an entirely different experience for the streamer and the viewers.
Moderators (Mods): Individuals who help manage the chat during a live stream by enforcing rules, removing inappropriate comments, and keeping the conversation friendly and engaging. Streamers often appoint moderators from their community or fan base, people who have proven themselves in some way.
Monetisation: The process by which streamers earn money from their content. This can come from ad revenue, donations, subscriptions, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.
Multi-Streaming: Streaming to multiple platforms at the same time, such as Twitch and YouTube Gaming. Multi-streaming increases exposure and viewership but can be difficult to manage.
N
Narrative Stream: A type of stream focused on storytelling, often through role-playing games (RPGs) or interactive storytelling experiences. These streams are focused on creating an immersive world for viewers and may involve improvisation and deep character development.
Next-Gen Streaming: Refers to the evolving technology and features of streaming services, such as higher-quality video resolutions (e.g., 4K), lower latency, improved interactive features, or integration with new hardware (like next-gen consoles or cloud gaming platforms).
Non-Partnered Streamer: A content creator who streams on a platform but has not yet reached the partnership level, meaning they do not have access to certain monetization options such as paid subscriptions, ads, or exclusive emotes.
Non-Stop Stream: A continuous stream that lasts for an extended period, sometimes for days or weeks, often as part of a charity event, marathon, or special occasion. Non-stop streams are a way for streamers to engage with their audience over a long period.
Nostalgia Stream: A stream where the streamer revisits older games or content that they and their viewers have a sentimental attachment to. Nostalgia streams often involve playing retro games or revisiting a part of the streamer’s history that resonates with long-time followers.
Nudge: A small prompt or notification that encourages viewers to take a certain action, like subscribing, donating, or participating in a poll, often used by streamers to increase engagement.
O
OBS (Open Broadcaster Software): A free, open-source software used by streamers to capture and broadcast their streams. OBS allows streamers to set up scenes, add media sources, and control audio for high-quality broadcasts.
Offline: When a streamer is not currently live or broadcasting content. Viewers may still visit the streamer's channel, but the stream will not be active. Many streamers leave "Offline" notifications or pre-recorded content to engage their audience when they aren’t streaming live.
Overlay: Graphics placed on top of the stream video, such as a webcam frame, recent donation alerts, or a follower count. Streamers use overlays to personalise their streams and create a branded experience.
Levelupjake tip: Overlay - Your charity should have custom overlays, allowing streamers to effectively support your charity visually on stream effortlessly. Having pre-made overlays also means streamers are less likely to misrepresent your brand by creating their own overlays which might not align with your brand guidelines.
P
Partner Program: A program offered by platforms like Twitch or YouTube Gaming that allows streamers to earn money through advertisements, subscriptions, and donations. Becoming a partner often requires meeting certain viewership and content creation criteria.
Polls (Tiltify): A fundraising feature to engage donors by letting them vote on fun decisions (e.g.: what a streamer should do next), encouraging interaction and participation.
Public Channel: A live stream channel that is visible to anyone, not restricted by subscriptions or memberships. Most streamers on platforms like Twitch have public channels that are accessible to all viewers.
Q
Quality Options: The different streaming resolutions (such as 720p, 1080p, etc.) and bitrates available to viewers to adjust for the best viewing experience. On platforms like Twitch, streamers can unlock quality options depending on their partner or affiliate status, allowing viewers to choose a lower-quality stream if they have a slower internet connection.
Queue: A system where viewers or participants in a live stream (such as in a multiplayer game) wait for their turn to join or interact with the stream. This term is common in gaming streams that feature community participation or multiplayer matches.
Quick Switch: The ability for streamers to rapidly switch between scenes or sources during a broadcast. Quick switch functionality is often set up in streaming software like OBS to help manage different visuals, such as from a game to a webcam view.
R
Raid: A feature that allows streamers to send their viewers to another streamer's channel when they end their stream. This is often used to promote other creators, foster community interaction, and give smaller streamers exposure. It’s a popular tool on platforms like Twitch.
Raiding Party: The group of viewers who are sent to another streamer's channel during a raid. The raiding party typically follows the streamer to show support and help boost the new channel’s viewership.
Reaction Stream: A type of stream where the content creator reacts to videos, memes, or other media shared by their audience or curated from the internet. These streams are typically interactive and rely heavily on chat engagement.
Reaction Stream: A type of stream where the host watches and reacts to content, such as videos, trailers, or other streamers' clips. These streams are often interactive and involve a lot of audience engagement as the streamer shares their thoughts in real-time.
Resub: A term referring to a viewer or subscriber renewing their subscription to a streamer’s channel after it expires. Resubs are often celebrated with special alerts, emotes, or other acknowledgments in the stream.
Revenue Split: The percentage of revenue shared between the streaming platform and the content creator. For example, Twitch typically offers a 50/50 revenue split for ads and subscriptions for affiliates and partners, though this can vary for higher-tier creators.
Reward (Tiltify): A fundraising feature to add custom incentives for donors based on donation amounts or milestones, like shoutouts or exclusive unlockable content (physical or digital), to keep donors engaged and motivated.
S
Stream Deck: A hardware device used by streamers to easily control their stream. It typically has customisable buttons that can trigger actions like changing scenes, playing sounds, or activating alerts. The most popular stream deck is made by Elgato.
Streaming Software: Programs used by streamers to broadcast their content live. Popular streaming software includes OBS (Open Broadcaster Software), Streamlabs OBS, and XSplit. These tools allow streamers to set up their video feed, overlays, alerts, and other elements.
Stream Key: A unique code provided by streaming platforms like Twitch or YouTube Gaming that is required for streamers to broadcast their content. It links the streaming software (e.g., OBS or Streamlabs) to the platform.
Streamlabs: A popular streaming software that integrates with platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming, providing streamers with customizable overlays, alerts, and other tools to enhance the streaming experience. Streamlabs also supports donation systems and integration with third-party services.
Stream Overlay: Graphics that are displayed over a live stream’s video feed to enhance the stream's appearance. These overlays may include elements like webcam frames, donation notifications, or recent follower alerts. Custom overlays are often created to match the streamer’s branding.
Stream Sniping: The act of watching a streamer’s broadcast to gain an advantage in a multiplayer game. For example, a viewer might use the stream to find out the streamer’s location or strategy. Stream sniping is often frowned upon as unfair.
Stream Team: A group of streamers who work together, often under a shared banner or brand. Stream teams may collaborate on events or cross-promote each other's channels to grow their collective audience.
Subathon: A type of stream where the streamer extends their broadcast time based on certain milestones, often driven by subscriptions or donations. Subathons are designed to encourage viewers to subscribe and interact to keep the stream going longer.
Sub Goal: A target set by streamers to encourage viewers to subscribe, often used in fundraising campaigns. The goal may be to reach a certain number of subscribers within a set period, and streamers often use visual indicators to track progress on screen.
Sub only Stream: A special broadcast that is only available to subscribers, often used as an exclusive perk for loyal viewers. This may include private gaming sessions or Q&A sessions.
Subscriber (Twitch): A viewer who pays for a subscription to a channel.
Subscriber-Only Chat: A feature that restricts the ability to chat in a stream’s chat to only those who have subscribed to the channel. This can help make the chat more manageable and reward dedicated viewers.
Subscription (Sub): A paid form of support for streamers. On platforms like Twitch, viewers can subscribe to a channel to support the creator, unlocking benefits such as ad-free viewing, exclusive emotes, and access to subscriber-only content.
Super Chat: A feature on YouTube that allows viewers to pay to have their messages highlighted in the live chat. Streamers can see these messages more easily, and the viewer’s message stays pinned for a set period.
Supporter Emotes: Custom emotes that are available only to subscribers or followers of a channel. These emotes are used in chat to show support for the streamer and often have unique designs or messages.
T
Targets (Tiltify): A fundraising feature to set up mini fundraising goals, often with time limits and to keep campaigns focused and motivate donors to help reach the next target.
Thankmas: An annual charity event organized by Jacksepticeye (Seán McLoughlin), a popular YouTuber and streamer. The event typically takes place in December and encourages viewers to donate to various charitable causes. Much like other charity events, Thankmas involves live streaming, special challenges, and collaborations with other creators.
Tier 1/2/3 Subscriptions: On Twitch, these are different levels of paid subscriptions. Tier 1 is the basic subscription, while Tier 2 and 3 offer more benefits such as exclusive emotes, badges, and additional features. These are a source of income for streamers.
Tiers (Donations): Different levels of donations that a viewer can choose from, often linked to specific rewards or recognition. Streamers may set up tiered donation systems for things like shout-outs, custom emotes, or exclusive content.
Tiltify: A platform designed for fundraising through live streaming, often used by streamers to raise money for charity. Tiltify integrates with Twitch and other platforms, allowing viewers to donate directly during a stream.
Top Donor: The person who has made the largest donation during a stream or within a specific time period. Streamers often acknowledge their top donors as a way of showing gratitude and encouraging further support.
Twitch: One of the largest live streaming platforms, primarily focused on video games, but also home to streams about music, art, talk shows, and more.
Twitch Affiliate: A status granted to streamers on Twitch who meet specific requirements, allowing them to earn revenue from ads, subscriptions, and bits. Becoming an Affiliate is often the first step for streamers to start monetizing their content.
Twitch Extension: Interactive tools that allow streamers to add extra features to their broadcasts, such as live polls, games, or interactive overlays. Extensions help create more immersive experiences for both streamers and their viewers.
Twitch Partner: A higher-tier status than Affiliate, given to streamers who have reached significant milestones in terms of viewership and content. Partners receive more revenue opportunities, including higher ad revenue, emotes, and other perks.
Twitch Prime – A premium service included with an Amazon Prime subscription, offering free monthly subscriptions, games, game items/bundles and other benefits to streamers/gamers.
Levelupjake tip: Tiltify - If your charity isn't on Tiltify, you should get set up on Tiltify ASAP. It is the number one platform used by streamers to fundraise for charities. I offer a comprehensive Tiltify levelup package which includes review/setup, asset development and supporter asset packs. Get in touch at hello@levelupjake.com
U
Unboxing Stream: A stream where the creator opens and showcases a product, often for the first time. Unboxing streams can be related to tech, gaming, or merchandise and typically involve reactions and reviews of the items.
Upload speed: The rate at which data is uploaded. Higher upload speeds allow for smoother and higher-quality broadcasts. Insufficient upload speed can result in stream buffering, poor video quality, or even stream interruptions.
Upstream: The data sent from a streamer's computer to the streaming platform. A strong upstream connection is crucial for ensuring a smooth, high-quality broadcast.
V
Verification: A process that streamers must go through to prove their identity on platforms like Twitch, often required to access certain features such as partner or affiliate status, or to unlock additional content and revenue opportunities.
Viewer Interaction: The ways in which viewers engage with the streamer during the broadcast, typically through chat, donations, or participating in polls or giveaways. High levels of viewer interaction are a sign of an engaged community.
Viewers: People who are watching a live stream. The number of viewers is often displayed on the streamer's channel page or during the stream itself. The viewership count is a key metric of a stream's success.
VIP (Twitch) – A special designation given to viewers who are highly engaged with the streamer or community, often for their support or involvement. They receive a special badge to show their status in chat.
VIP Chat: A feature that gives special chat privileges to viewers who are designated as VIPs. VIPs may have more control over chat messages, such as not being subject to slow mode or being able to use exclusive emotes.
VOD (Video on Demand): The recorded version of a live stream that viewers can watch after the broadcast has ended. VODs allow viewers to catch up on content they missed and provide streamers with additional opportunities to generate views and revenue.
VTuber: A content creator who uses a virtual avatar (often an animated character) to represent themselves during live streams or videos. VTubers typically use motion capture technology to animate their avatar in real-time based on their movements, expressions, and voice. This allows creators to maintain anonymity or create a specific persona while interacting with their audience.
W
Watch Party: A type of community event where a group of viewers watch content together, typically coordinated by a streamer. Watch parties can include watching a live stream, movie, or special event, often accompanied by live commentary from the streamer.
Watch Time: The amount of time viewers spend watching a live stream. Platforms like YouTube and Twitch track watch time as a key performance indicator (KPI) for streamers. High watch time can help streamers grow their audience.
Whisper: A private message between two users on platforms like Twitch, allowing them to communicate without posting in the public chat. Whispers are useful for private conversations or questions during a live stream.
Widget: A small, customizable feature that can be added to a live stream, like a donation tracker, subscriber goal, or chatbox. Widgets are often used by streamers to make their streams more interactive and informative for viewers.
Wrench (Moderator badge): A symbol often associated with moderators in chat, signifying their ability to manage and moderate conversations. The "wrench" is often displayed next to the name of moderators on platforms like Twitch to show their role in maintaining chat order.
X
XP (Experience Points): A system used in many games, including those streamed on platforms like Twitch, to track player progression. Streamers sometimes use XP in interactive ways with their audience, such as allowing viewers to "level up" through participation or donations.
XSplit: A popular alternative to OBS for live streaming and video production. XSplit allows streamers to capture and broadcast their content with high-quality tools and customizable features.
Y
Yellow Badge: On Twitch, a yellow badge represents a subscriber who has been supporting the streamer for a specific amount of time, usually indicating a longer-term subscription and loyalty. This is one example of the many types of (Twitch) badges that are used on the platform.
Yogscast: A popular group of YouTubers and streamers known for their gaming content, especially Minecraft and other role-playing games. The Yogscast brand has expanded into live streaming, podcasts, and collaborative content with other creators.
YouTube Gaming: A section of YouTube dedicated to live gaming content, including game streams, eSports tournaments, and creator content. Streamers on YouTube Gaming can interact with their audience through live chat and comments.
Youtuber: A content creator who primarily broadcasts pre-recorded or live video on YouTube. Many YouTubers also engage in live streaming, especially on YouTube Gaming, to interact with their audience in real-time.
Z
Zero Latency: A feature that minimizes delay in live streaming, ensuring that what happens in the game is shown on the screen in real-time with minimal delay. Zero latency is crucial for competitive gaming streams where reaction times are essential.