# 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.

- Section: Blog (https://videokr.com/blog)
- Page: https://videokr.com/blog/video-hosting-glossary
- Last updated: 2026-08-18

## 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](/blog/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](/blog/why-plays-not-bandwidth).

## 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](/docs/sources).

## Domain lock

A rule limiting which hostnames may embed a video, so a copied embed code plays nowhere else. See [private video](/docs/privacy).

## 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.

## FAQ

### 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.

## Related

- [Plans, plays and limits](https://videokr.com/docs/plans-and-limits)
- [How to choose a video hosting platform](https://videokr.com/guides/best-video-hosting)
- [Why we meter plays, not bandwidth](https://videokr.com/blog/why-plays-not-bandwidth)
- [A video SEO checklist you can finish this afternoon](https://videokr.com/blog/video-seo-checklist)

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Videokr — Videokr is hosted video for marketing sites: upload or link a video, brand the player, capture emails inside it, embed it anywhere and read second-by-second retention. Free tier forever, $69 lifetime, or metered plans.
Plans: https://videokr.com/#pricing · Full reference: https://videokr.com/llms-full.txt