What is the SRT protocol? Everything you need to know in 2026

What is SRT?

The SRT protocol (for Secure Reliable Transport) is an open-source streaming solution designed to guarantee high-quality video, with very low latency - even when the connection leaves something to be desired. Developed by Haivision, it has rapidly become a must-have in the world of broadcasting and live events, thanks to its ability to transport video reliably and securely, even over capricious and unstable networks.

Unlike traditional protocols such as RTMP, SRT optimizes video streaming by managing packet loss, jitter, and fluctuations in network quality. By 2026, it will establish itself as a robust solution for broadcasters, content creators, and businesses.

A brief history of SRT

Haivision launched SRT in 2013 to address the reliability shortcomings of existing protocols on unpredictable networks. In 2017, the protocol was opened to the open-source community, enabling its mass adoption and continuous improvement by developers, broadcasters and technology companies worldwide.

Since then, SRT has seen growing adoption. By 2026, it is firmly established as the benchmark for low-latency video streaming, prized in media, sports broadcasting, and corporate communications.

How does SRT work?

In concrete terms, the SRT protocol enables efficient transmission of audio and video over the Internet, even when the network is less than ideal. It relies on several advanced techniques to maintain optimal broadcast quality. Here's what makes it stand out:

• Packet loss correction: SRT uses retransmission requests to recover lost packets and guarantee flow integrity.
  
  
• Adaptive bit-rate control: the protocol dynamically adjusts flow quality according to network conditions.
  
  
• Security and encryption: thanks to AES 128 or 256-bit encryption, content is protected during transmission.
  
  
• Low latency: SRT reduces latency compared with traditional methods, making it ideal for real-time broadcasts.
  
  

Thanks to these technical capabilities, SRT offers a far superior experience to older streaming protocols.

Comparison with other protocols

The SRT protocol is ideal for live streaming, as it offers very low latency, good security thanks to encryption, and adapts well to network problems. It's perfect for professional broadcasts, such as live events or remote production.

The RTMP is still often used, especially for streaming on social networks, but it is less secure and less flexible than SRT.

Visit HLS is very good for video-on-demand, because it works well on a large scale, but it has high latency, so it's not ideal for live broadcasts.

Finally, WebRTC is the best choice for videoconferencing and interactive applications, as it offers very low latency, even if its security is a little more basic.

Which platforms still accept RTMP streams?

Despite the rise of SRT, RTMP is still widely used on many live streaming platforms, including :

• YouTube Live
  
• Facebook Live
  
• Twitch
  
• LinkedIn Live

However, as SRT gains ground, more and more platforms are beginning to integrate it natively. Solutions such as Yuzzit make it possible to receive both RTMP and SRT streams and benefit from the platform's functionalities.

Yuzzit: a SRT-compatible solution

Yuzzit fully exploits the capabilities of the SRT protocol in its live streaming workflows. The platform allows you to ingest an SRT stream, produce live clippings in real time , and then publish the content to multiple channels.

This makes it an ideal solution for sports broadcasters, news agencies and content creators who need to react live and fast.

With Yuzzit, companies can take advantage of SRT while retaining the flexibility needed for multi-platform delivery.

Conclusion

In 2026, as streaming continues to become more professional, the SRT protocol is establishing itself as a reliable option for low-latency, secure, high-quality video streaming. Thanks to its adaptability, reliability, and advanced encryption, it is becoming the protocol of choice for broadcast professionals and businesses.

And with the increasing integration of SRT on streaming platforms, its adoption has only just begun. Whether you're a content creator, a technophile or a broadcaster, staying on the cutting edge of these technologies guarantees you'll deliver the best possible experience to your audience.