Synchronizing WebRTC Metadata
Learn strategies for using live data channels (e.g., WebSockets) to synchronize non-media related metadata alongside WebRTC calls.
What is WebRTC Metadata?
When you think of a WebRTC call, you likely picture audio and video. But what about all the other information that makes a call useful? This is where metadata comes in.
Metadata is "data about data." In WebRTC, it's all the non-media information that enhances your real-time experience, like user names, statuses, or shared application states.
Why Metadata Sync Matters
Synchronizing metadata is crucial for creating rich, interactive real-time applications. It allows you to:
- Show who's currently speaking
- Display user names and avatars
- Share call status (e.g., "on hold", "recording")
- Enable real-time collaboration features
Without it, a call is just raw audio/video with little context.
All lessons in this course
- Synchronizing WebRTC Metadata
- Real-time Chat over Data Channels
- Sharing Application State Live
- File Transfer over WebRTC Data Channels