# IPTV glossary

URL: https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/iptv-glossary/

> An A to Z IPTV glossary: M3U, Xtream Codes, EPG, MAC, portal, catch-up, VOD, HEVC, bitrate, buffering, connections and more, in plain language.

Term | Meaning | 
AFR | Auto frame rate: device switches refresh rate to match the channel | 
Bitrate | Amount of data per second in a stream; higher is sharper | 
[Buffering](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/iptv-buffering-fixes/) | Waiting while the player loads more video | 
[Catch-up](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/iptv-catch-up-guide/) | Playing programmes that already aired | 
Connection | One device playing at a time | 
Decoder | Part of the player that turns data into pictures | 
[DNS](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/iptv-dns-guide/) | System that turns names into server addresses | 
[EPG](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/epg-tv-guide-explained/) | The TV guide | 
Ethernet | Wired network cable | 
FHD | Full HD, 1080p | 
HEVC (H.265) | Efficient video format used for 4K | 
HLS | Streaming in short segments over HTTP | 
ISP | Your internet provider | 
Line | Industry word for one subscription | 
M3U | Playlist file of channels | 
MAC address | Hardware ID used by MAG boxes and some TV apps | 
MAG | Set-top box brand using portals | 
Multiview | Several channels on one screen | 
Panel | Server software a provider uses | 
Player | App used to watch IPTV | 
Portal | Web address a MAG box loads | 
Sideloading | Installing apps from outside the store | 
Stream | One channel's video data | 
Throttling | ISP slowing certain traffic | 
UHD / 4K | 2160p resolution | 
VPN | Encrypted tunnel for your traffic | 
Xtream Codes | Login with server, username, password | 
XMLTV | TV guide file format | 
5 GHz | Faster Wi-Fi band at short range | 
2.4 GHz | Slower Wi-Fi band with longer range | 

Want more depth? Start with [IPTV explained](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/iptv-explained/).

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## Questions and answers

**What is a line in IPTV?**

One subscription account.

**What is a portal in IPTV?**

The web address a MAG box or STB app loads to show channels.

**What does AFR mean?**

Auto frame rate: the device matches the channel's frame rate.

## More iptv explained guides

- [M3U playlist explained](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/m3u-playlist-explained/)
- [Xtream Codes login explained](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/xtream-codes-login-explained/)
- [EPG: the IPTV TV guide explained](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/epg-tv-guide-explained/)
- [IPTV catch-up explained](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/iptv-catch-up-guide/)
- [Recording IPTV: what works](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/iptv-recording-guide/)

[All IPTV Explained guides](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/iptv-guides/explained/) · [Every IPTV guide](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/iptv-guides/)

## Sources and official links

- [M3U playlist format (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M3U)
- [XMLTV guide format (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XMLTV)
- [HTTP Live Streaming (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_Live_Streaming)
- [Cloudflare: what is DNS?](https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/dns/what-is-dns/)

**Viking IPTV Editorial Team**

We open every provider site on our list, record what it offers and re-check the whole list regularly. [Our methodology and disclosure](https://blog.vikingiptvofficial.com/about/).