WebRTC | Complete Guide to Web Real-Time Communication

WebRTC is one of the most exciting new technologies that is completely changing the way we communicated with each other over the internet. While WebRTC has been around for nearly a decade, it's popularity is becoming increasingly evident in today's web communication landscape.

Supported by the most popular browsers, WebRTC has been gaining more traction as more companies shift to a remote workforce. So, what exactly is WebRTC, and why are people so excited about it? That's exactly what we're here to cover.

WebRTC stands for web real-time communication. While communication over the internet is nothing new, WebRTC is both an exciting and powerful technology that is changing the way we connect with one another.

As an open source technology for browsers and mobile devices, WebRTC is primarily used to establish peer-to-peer connections. Once a connection is established, users are able to transfer media files, such as audio and video, in real time.

When WebRTC was first released, there were security concerns that came up. The security concerns, sometimes referred to as leaks, arose from the direct pathways established between devices. In order to reduce latency and achieve more efficient real-time communication, the connected devices agree to bypass certain security measures.

That being said, WebRTC is a secure and reliable means of communication. Today, Secure Real-Time Protocol encryption is actually mandated by IETF standards.

There’s no denying that WebRTC is growing in popularity, but what is it exactly that makes this new technology so appealing to developers and businesses? The answer lies in the four key WebRTC servers.

• WebRTC Media Servers
• WebRTC Signaling Servers
• WebRTC TURN Servers
• WebRTC NAT Traversal Servers

Prior to the development of WebRTC, browsers had to establish a connection with a server which handled all the requests. With WebRTC the server is only used to negotiate a connection between devices, and is then essentially removed from the equation once the connection is made.

When it comes to video chat, there are a handful of benefits to WebRTC that you just don’t get from older technologies. These benefits are the primary reason there has been widespread adoption of WebRTC among the most popular web browsers.

The main benefit, which appeals to most developers, is the reduction of latency. With direct, peer-to-peer connection, there is no waiting for servers to relay the information between clients (browsers). Aside from faster streaming, WebRTC also removes the need for additional applications, making it much easier to work with.

Here’s the thing. It’s highly unlikely that WebRTC is going to replace legacy VoIP infrastructure. However, that doesn’t mean that web real-time communication doesn’t offer an easier peer-to-peer communication option. In fact, some of the most popular apps, such as Facebook to WhatsApp, have been built with WebRTC technology.

With a greater understanding of web real-time communication, it’s time to put WebRTC to the test. Learn how to build your own WebRTC application with Telnyx in no time. From getting started with the Telnyx portal and API, to incredibly helpful and easy to follow documentation, our quickstart guide has everything you’ll need to get started.