What Is M3U8?
M3U8 is the playlist file used by the HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) protocol. It is a UTF-8 text file that records the addresses of the video segments. The video is cut into a series of TS segments, which are then played back in order through the M3U8 index — this is what makes adaptive bitrate streaming and live broadcast possible.
How to Play Online
- Get a video URL that ends with
.m3u8. - Open the M3U8 online player.
- Paste the link and hit play.
- Use controls such as fullscreen and playback speed.
Supported Protocols
- HLS (M3U8): Video-on-demand and live streaming, with native browser support or hls.js.
- RTMP / HTTP-FLV / WebSocket-FLV: Use the RTMP player instead.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The link is valid but won't play — why?
This is usually caused by hotlink protection or a required User-Agent/Referer. Try switching networks or getting a clean link.
Can I watch live streams?
Yes, HLS live streaming is supported; for RTMP live streams, use the RTMP player.
References
- HLS specification — IETF draft: https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-pantos-hls-rfc8216bis
- hls.js: https://hls-js.netlify.app/