Video hosting glossary: the terms vendors use differently
The words that cost money are the ones vendors define differently: a "view" can mean three seconds of playback or an impression, "bandwidth" can be metered or included, and "unlimited" is usually bounded by fair-use terms. This glossary gives plain definitions and flags where to read the fine print.
Play
A viewer starting a video. Read the de-duplication rule: Videokr counts one play per video per viewer per calendar month, so reloads and rewatches do not add up. Some vendors count every start.
View
The word to be most careful with. It can mean a play, a play of at least N seconds, or an impression. If a plan is priced on views, ask for the definition in writing.
Impression
The player loaded on a page, whether or not anyone pressed play. Useful as the denominator of play rate. Videokr reports impressions and never bills them.
Play rate
Plays ÷ impressions. A thumbnail-and-placement metric. See thumbnail testing.
Retention curve
The share of viewers still watching at each point in the runtime — Videokr uses a hundred buckets per video. An average watch time is a summary of this curve, and it hides the shape.
Egress / bandwidth
Bytes delivered to viewers. Metered by most CDNs and some video platforms; not metered by Videokr on any plan. This is the line item that scales with success. See why we meter plays.
Transcoding
Converting a master into several renditions so playback can adapt to a viewer's connection. Free with a hosted platform; a pipeline you build and pay for when self-hosting.
HLS / DASH
Adaptive streaming formats: the video is split into segments at several bitrates, described by a manifest (.m3u8 for HLS). Safari plays HLS natively; other browsers need a JavaScript player. Videokr accepts an HLS URL as a source.
Domain lock
A rule limiting which hostnames may embed a video, so a copied embed code plays nowhere else. See private video.
Unlisted
A page that is reachable by link but carries noindex and appears in no sitemap. Not the same as private.
Badge / branding
The vendor's mark on the player. Free tiers usually show one; check exactly which paid tier removes it — Videokr removes it on every paid plan and on Lifetime.
Unlimited
Almost never literally unlimited. Look for the fair-use clause and the per-file size cap. Videokr states the specific upload limits: 200 MB per file and 5 MB per image.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a play and a view?
A play is a viewer starting the video. "View" has no standard definition — it may include a minimum watch duration or count every start — so check how any vendor defines the unit it bills.
What is egress?
The bytes delivered to viewers. Most CDNs meter it; Videokr does not meter bandwidth on any plan.