IPTV glossary from A to Z

Short definitions of important terms relating to apps, playlists, devices, networks and playback.

In brief

What is the IPTV glossary?

The glossary defines technical and practical IPTV terms in a few sentences. It serves as an introduction and links to detailed device, help and guide pages throughout the website.

Clear definitions

No unnecessary jargon

Linked to practical guides

Last checked: 25 June 2026DeutschlandTV Editorial TeamMethodology

Definitions

Important IPTV terms

Each term is explained as briefly as possible and as precisely as necessary.

IPTV: Television delivered via Internet Protocol rather than exclusively through cable, satellite or antenna.
IPTV player: An app that reads access details or playlists and displays live TV, EPG and other functions.
M3U: A neutral playlist file format. Whether the sources it contains are lawful depends on their origin and rights.
Xtream Codes: A commonly used login format with server address, username and password.
EPG: Electronic programme guide containing programme names, times and programme information.
Buffering: Temporary storage of data. Frequent buffering can indicate network, server, device or app problems.
LAN: Wired network connection that is generally more stable and less prone to interference than Wi-Fi.
5 GHz Wi-Fi: Faster Wi-Fi frequency band with often less interference but shorter range than 2.4 GHz.
Tizen: Operating system used by many Samsung Smart TVs.
webOS: Operating system used by many LG Smart TVs.
Android TV / Google TV: TV operating system with access to compatible apps in the Google Play Store.
Fire OS: Amazon operating system on Fire TV devices.
Multiroom: Use of a service in multiple rooms or on multiple devices.
Bitrate: Amount of data per second in a stream. Higher quality usually requires more bandwidth.
Latency: Delay in data transmission. Strong fluctuations can affect live playback.
Packet loss: Data packets do not reach the destination completely; this can cause picture errors, dropouts or buffering.