: Direct paths to where each video chunk is stored on a server or Content Delivery Network (CDN) .
Unlike traditional file formats like MP4, which store an entire movie in a single large package, HLS breaks video content into hundreds or thousands of small, digestible segments—typically 6 to 10 seconds long. These segments are often stored as .ts (MPEG Transport Stream) or fragmented .mp4 files. m3u8-url
The M3U8 file serves as the central conductor for this process. When a user clicks a playback link, the media player first downloads the M3U8 manifest, which contains: : Direct paths to where each video chunk