Playback

Updated: 01/18/2023 by Computer Hope

Playback may refer to any of the following:

Illustration: Playback of a video file.

1. With a file, playback describes media files containing audio or video stored on the computer that can be opened (played) at any time.

Playback may also describe content that's uploaded and stored on the Internet and streamed to a computer later. Examples are a video on YouTube or a song downloaded from Spotify. Playback of content differs from live-streamed content, which is consumed in real-time by an audience over the Internet.

2. With hardware, a playback device is a device that can listen to audio or watch video. For example a monitor, speakers, and headphones are all examples of playback devices.

File, Internet terms, Media, QuickTime, Sound terms, Video terms, Windows Media Player