Streaming video is a means of delivering video content to computer and personal devices via an Internet connection without requiring any additional equipment for decoding or downloading. Streaming video differs from downloads in that no copy of the file is stored on the end-user's device, so files remain relatively secure.
Because of the large file sizes associated with video, streaming video are "compressed." This compression can impact image quality when played full-screen or projected. A high speed internet connection is essential for the best possible video quality. Dial-up connections generally are too slow to adequately deliver streaming videos without experiencing problems while watching the content..