{"id":446,"date":"2026-08-14T20:56:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T20:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wiztv.uk\/blog\/?p=446"},"modified":"2026-07-23T17:15:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T17:15:34","slug":"iptv-glossary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wiztv.uk\/blog\/iptv-glossary\/","title":{"rendered":"IPTV Glossary: M3U, Xtream, EPG, VOD &#038; More"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wiztv-hero\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wiztv.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/iptv-glossary.png\" alt=\"iptv terms explained\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:8px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>IPTV comes with an unreasonable amount of jargon, most of which is never explained before it&#39;s used. This is the plain-English reference: every term you&#39;ll actually encounter, defined in a sentence or two, grouped by what it relates to. Bookmark it and dip in when something confuses you.<\/p>\n<div style=\"border-left:4px solid #2edbfc;background:rgba(46,219,252,0.10);padding:14px 18px;border-radius:6px;margin:20px 0\">\n<strong>The five you&#8217;ll meet first<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>M3U<\/strong> \u2014 a playlist file listing channels and their stream addresses.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Xtream Codes<\/strong> \u2014 a login (server URL + username + password). Prefer this over M3U.<\/li>\n<li><strong>EPG<\/strong> \u2014 the on-screen programme guide.<\/li>\n<li><strong>VOD<\/strong> \u2014 video on demand: the films and series library.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Connection<\/strong> \u2014 one screen watching at a time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Login and playlist terms<\/h2>\n<p><strong>M3U<\/strong> \u2014 A playlist file (or link) containing a list of channels and the web addresses their streams live at. Originally created in 1998 for music playlists. Some providers rotate M3U links periodically for security, which is why an old one can stop working. See <a href=\"https:\/\/wiztv.uk\/blog\/iptv-m3u-playlist\/\">M3U playlists explained<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>M3U8<\/strong> \u2014 The same format, encoded in UTF-8 so it handles international characters. Functionally interchangeable for most purposes.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Xtream Codes<\/strong> \u2014 A login method: a <strong>server URL<\/strong>, a <strong>username<\/strong> and a <strong>password<\/strong>. One authenticated call returns your channels (sorted into categories), the VOD library and the guide. More convenient than M3U and the credentials don&#39;t change. See <a href=\"https:\/\/wiztv.uk\/blog\/xtream-codes-explained\/\">Xtream Codes explained<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Portal \/ Portal URL<\/strong> \u2014 The connection method used by MAG-style boxes. Your provider generates a portal tied to your box&#39;s MAC address, and the box loads channels from it. No app or login screen involved.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Server URL \/ Host<\/strong> \u2014 The address your player connects to. Must usually start with <code>http:\/\/<\/code> rather than <code>https:\/\/<\/code> \u2014 the single most common cause of rejected logins.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stream URL<\/strong> \u2014 The direct address of an individual channel&#39;s video feed, usually ending <code>.ts<\/code> or <code>.m3u8<\/code>.<\/p>\n<h2>Guide and content terms<\/h2>\n<p><strong>EPG (Electronic Programme Guide)<\/strong> \u2014 The on-screen grid showing what&#39;s on now and next. With an Xtream login it usually loads automatically; with M3U you may need to add a separate EPG URL.<\/p>\n<p><strong>VOD (Video On Demand)<\/strong> \u2014 The library of films and series you can start any time, as opposed to live channels.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Catch-up \/ Archive<\/strong> \u2014 The ability to rewind a channel and watch something broadcast in the last few days. Typically a few days&#39; worth, depending on the provider.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Series \/ Live TV categories<\/strong> \u2014 How Xtream logins organise content: live channels, films and series in separate sections rather than one long list.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bouquet<\/strong> \u2014 A grouped set of channels, a term borrowed from satellite. Used on Enigma2 receivers in particular.<\/p>\n<h2>Device and setup terms<\/h2>\n<p><strong>MAC address<\/strong> \u2014 A unique hardware identifier for a device, formatted like <code>00:1A:79:xx:xx:xx<\/code>. Smart TV apps and MAG boxes use it to identify your device rather than a username.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Device Key<\/strong> \u2014 An additional code some Smart TV apps (IBO Player, for example) show alongside the MAC for activation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sideloading<\/strong> \u2014 Installing an app from outside the device&#39;s official store. Standard practice on Firestick, done using the Downloader app.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Downloader \/ Downloader code<\/strong> \u2014 A free Fire TV app that fetches and installs other apps, plus the short numeric code that points it at a specific one. IPTV Smarters Pro is 6468112. See <a href=\"https:\/\/wiztv.uk\/blog\/best-iptv-app-for-firestick\/\">Firestick app codes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>APK<\/strong> \u2014 The installer file format for Android apps, which Firestick and Android boxes use.<\/p>\n<p><strong>STB (Set-Top Box)<\/strong> \u2014 A dedicated box for TV rather than a general streaming device. MAG and Formuler are the common IPTV examples.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Connection<\/strong> \u2014 One simultaneous stream. A one-connection plan means one screen at a time; two people watching needs two.<\/p>\n<h2>Quality and performance terms<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Bitrate<\/strong> \u2014 How much data per second a stream uses. Higher usually means better picture, and more bandwidth needed.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Buffering<\/strong> \u2014 The stream pausing to reload, usually with a spinner. Distinct from freezing. See <a href=\"https:\/\/wiztv.uk\/blog\/fix-iptv-buffering\/\">fixing buffering<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Freezing<\/strong> \u2014 The picture sticking or stuttering while audio often continues, usually a decoding issue rather than a network one.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hardware \/ software decoding<\/strong> \u2014 Whether your device uses dedicated video hardware or the general processor to decode video. Toggling between them fixes a lot of stuttering.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Widevine L1 \/ L3<\/strong> \u2014 A DRM certification level on Android devices. <strong>L1<\/strong> allows HD and 4K on licensed apps; <strong>L3<\/strong> caps you at standard definition regardless of what the box claims.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Transcoding<\/strong> \u2014 Converting a stream to a different quality or format, usually to suit a slower connection.<\/p>\n<h2>Network and safety terms<\/h2>\n<p><strong>DNS<\/strong> \u2014 The system translating web addresses into server addresses. Switching to 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 fixes many &quot;some channels won&#39;t load&quot; problems.<\/p>\n<p><strong>DPI (Deep Packet Inspection)<\/strong> \u2014 How internet providers identify what type of traffic you&#39;re moving, which is how they can single out and throttle video streams.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Throttling<\/strong> \u2014 Your provider deliberately slowing certain traffic, often streaming at peak times.<\/p>\n<p><strong>VPN<\/strong> \u2014 An encrypted tunnel that hides your traffic type from your provider, useful against throttling and blocking. See <a href=\"https:\/\/wiztv.uk\/blog\/do-you-need-vpn-for-iptv\/\">do you need a VPN<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Free-to-air<\/strong> \u2014 Channels broadcast openly without a subscription. Playlists containing only these are legal to watch.<\/p>\n<h2>Business terms<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Reseller<\/strong> \u2014 Someone selling subscriptions on behalf of, or sourced from, a larger provider. Reselling unlicensed IPTV carries serious legal risk.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Panel<\/strong> \u2014 The back-end system a provider uses to manage subscriptions and streams.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Lifetime subscription<\/strong> \u2014 A one-off payment claiming permanent access. Almost always a scam; nobody can fund servers indefinitely on a single payment.<\/p>\n<h2>Still stuck on something?<\/h2>\n<p>If a term isn&#39;t here, it&#39;s probably provider-specific \u2014 and worth asking about before you pay for anything you don&#39;t understand. Clear explanations are a reasonable thing to expect, and a provider that can&#39;t give one is telling you something.<\/p>\n<p>New to all this? Start with our <a href=\"https:\/\/wiztv.uk\/blog\/iptv-guide-beginners\/\">beginner&#39;s guide<\/a>, or see what a straightforward <a href=\"https:\/\/wiztv.uk\/\">IPTV subscription UK<\/a> actually includes. For the formal definition of the on-demand side, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Video_on_demand\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">video on demand<\/a> is a useful reference.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<p><strong>What does M3U mean?<\/strong><br \/>\nIt&#39;s a playlist file listing channels and the addresses of their streams. Your player reads it to build your channel list.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is EPG?<\/strong><br \/>\nThe Electronic Programme Guide \u2014 the on-screen grid showing what&#39;s on now and next.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is VOD in IPTV?<\/strong><br \/>\nVideo on demand: the library of films and series you can start whenever you like, separate from live channels.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is a MAC address in IPTV?<\/strong><br \/>\nA unique hardware identifier for your device, used by Smart TV apps and MAG boxes to link your playlist to that specific device.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What does Xtream Codes mean?<\/strong><br \/>\nA login method using a server URL, username and password, which pulls your whole service including the guide in one step.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color:#0f1117;background-image:radial-gradient(circle at 88% 8%, rgba(46,219,252,0.22), rgba(46,219,252,0) 45%),linear-gradient(rgba(46,219,252,0.11) 1px, transparent 1px),linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(46,219,252,0.11) 1px, transparent 1px);background-size:100% 100%, 30px 30px, 30px 30px;border:1px solid rgba(46,219,252,0.30);border-radius:14px;padding:34px 30px;margin:38px 0 10px;text-align:center\">\n<div style=\"font-size:25px;font-weight:700;color:#2edbfc;line-height:1.3;margin-bottom:10px\">Cut the bill, keep the telly<\/div>\n<div style=\"font-size:16px;color:#aeb6c2;line-height:1.6;margin-bottom:22px\">Premium UK IPTV from \u00a314.99\/mo, with a 14-day money-back guarantee.<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/wiztv.uk\/\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#2edbfc;color:#06232b;text-decoration:none;font-weight:700;font-size:17px;padding:15px 40px;border-radius:9px\">See plans &#038; pricing &rarr;<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@graph\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Article\",\n      \"headline\": \"IPTV Glossary: M3U, Xtream, EPG, VOD & More\",\n      \"description\": \"Every IPTV term explained in plain English \u2014 playlist and login terms, guide and content, device, quality, network and business jargon.\",\n      \"author\": { \"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"WizTV Team\" },\n      \"publisher\": { \"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"WizTV\", \"logo\": { \"@type\": \"ImageObject\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/wiztv.uk\/logo.png\" } },\n      \"datePublished\": \"2026-07-23\",\n      \"dateModified\": \"2026-07-23\",\n      \"image\": \"https:\/\/wiztv.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/iptv-glossary.png\",\n      \"mainEntityOfPage\": \"https:\/\/wiztv.uk\/blog\/iptv-glossary\/\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n      \"itemListElement\": [\n        { \"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 1, \"name\": \"Home\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/wiztv.uk\/\" },\n        { \"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 2, \"name\": \"Blog\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/wiztv.uk\/blog\/\" },\n        { \"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 3, \"name\": \"IPTV Glossary\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/wiztv.uk\/blog\/iptv-glossary\/\" }\n      ]\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n      \"mainEntity\": [\n        { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What does M3U mean?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"It's a playlist file listing channels and the addresses of their streams. 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