Topic: Software
by T.Smaltsar
From a client perspective, online video communication is insanely simple today. You do not even need to install anything on your computer to call another person via the Internet. Modern video API solutions often require an Internet connection only to work, which is truly convenient. However, some work must be done behind the scenes to offer software users such an opportunity. Thanks to WebRTC signaling servers, people can engage in peer-to-peer communication right in the browser using video, audio, and data sharing. Whenever you are using a web interface to communicate with someone in real time, this connection happens via WebRTC signaling servers.
Before jumping into the servers used in WebRTC, it is necessary to understand what it is in itself. This abbreviation means Web Real-Time Communication, which is pretty self-explanatory. WebRTC is a project developed by Google and used by other companies as well, such as Microsoft, Apple, Mozilla, Opera, etc. This project enables Internet browsers and portable gadgets to connect users over the Internet for real-time communication. As such communication happens through the application programming interfaces, there is no need to download and install any programs. From the customer's point of view, this technology really seems like using a certain online platform like Digital Samba for instant video calls without additional installations. But for API developers, it is necessary to incorporate a variety of servers that enable such a quick and effortless connection.
Signaling servers used in WebRTC are special servers responsible for connecting two devices over the Internet. They are not made for transferring media and data but for managing the connection itself. This includes finding two devices and bringing them together, maintaining this connection, and renewing it if it was lost. Such servers are needed for protecting the information transmitted via this connection while not necessarily interpreting these data. The main objective of a signaling server is to essentially transmit the signal and connect the two endpoints.