I am building video web application for storing, managing and streaming videos, like youtube. Which protocol, is the best to, use and why ?

For building a video web application similar to YouTube, you would need a combination of protocols to handle different aspects of video storage, management, and streaming. Here are the key protocols you might use:

HTTP/HTTPS: For serving web pages, including video player interfaces, and establishing a connection between clients and your web servers. This is fundamental for web applications.

RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol): Historically, RTMP was used for streaming videos in applications like YouTube. However, it has become less common due to the rise of HTTP-based streaming protocols, such as DASH and HLS.

HLS (HTTP Live Streaming): HLS is an adaptive streaming protocol developed by Apple. It's widely used for streaming video content on the web. HLS dynamically adjusts video quality based on the viewer's network conditions, making it suitable for a variety of devices and network speeds.

DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP): DASH is another adaptive streaming protocol designed to work across various platforms. It's widely adopted for video streaming and offers similar adaptive streaming features as HLS.

WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication): WebRTC is suitable for real-time video communication and live streaming. It's a peer-to-peer protocol that can be used for live video broadcasting, video conferencing, and interactive video applications.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol): For storing and managing video files in a centralized repository. You can use these protocols for uploading, storing, and managing videos in your storage infrastructure.

CDN (Content Delivery Network): While not a protocol, using a CDN is crucial for delivering video content efficiently by caching and distributing videos to users from geographically distributed servers.

The best protocol for your video web application depends on your specific use case and requirements. In practice, a combination of protocols is often used. For example:

• Use HTTP/HTTPS for web pages and interfaces.
• Utilize HLS or DASH for adaptive streaming of on-demand videos.
• Implement WebRTC for real-time video communication or live streaming.
• Use FTP or S3 for video storage and management.
• Employ CDNs to optimize video delivery to users.

Adaptive streaming protocols like HLS and DASH are popular for on-demand video services because they provide a good viewing experience across various devices and network conditions. However, real-time or live video streaming may require different protocols like WebRTC. Your choice should align with your specific goals, technical capabilities, and user experience requirements.