Real-Time Streaming Protocol

Real Time Streaming Protocol
Communication protocol
AbbreviationRTSP
PurposeInternet streaming
Developer(s)RealNetworks, Netscape, Columbia University
IntroductionApril 1998; 26 years ago (1998-04)
OSI layerApplication layer (7)
Port(s)
  • 554/TCP
  • 554/UDP
RFC(s)RFC 2326, 7826

The Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) is an application-level network protocol designed for multiplexing and packetizing multimedia transport streams (such as interactive media, video and audio) over a suitable transport protocol. RTSP is used in entertainment and communications systems to control streaming media servers. The protocol is used for establishing and controlling media sessions between endpoints. Clients of media servers issue commands such as play, record and pause, to facilitate real-time control of the media streaming from the server to a client (video on demand) or from a client to the server (voice recording).