However, standard HTML5 <video> tags cannot natively play HLS streams on most desktop browsers (except Safari). Therefore, an bridges the gap—using JavaScript libraries (like hls.js) to decode the .m3u8 manifest and play the chunks seamlessly.
are the actual video chunks. Because each segment is small, the player can switch between quality levels at segment boundaries without noticeable interruptions, allowing seamless adaptation when bandwidth fluctuates. online hls player