#EXT-X-VERSION requirements

The version of #EXT-X-VERSION in the .m3u8 file affects what features are available to your application and what EXT tags are valid in your playlist/manifest.

About the #EXT-X-VERSION tag, which specifies the HLS protocol version:

  • The version must match the features and attributes contained within the HLS playlist; otherwise, playback errors might occur. Refer to the most recent version of the HTTP Live Streaming specification.
  • If the tag is not included in the master or media playlists or if no version is specified, then version 1 is used by default and any content that does not comply with version 1 will not play.
  • We recommend the use of at least version 2 for playback in PSDK-based clients. Clients and servers must implement the versions as follows for various features:
    Use at least this version To use these features
    EXT-X-VERSION:2 The IV attribute of the EXT-X-KEY tag
    EXT-X-VERSION:3
    • Floating-point EXTINF duration values

      The duration tags (#EXTINF:<duration>,<title>) in version 2 were rounded to integer values. Version 3 and above require durations to be exact in floating point.

    • PSDK features such as Ad Insertion and seamless ABR
    EXT-X-VERSION:4
    • The EXT-X-BYTERANGE tag
    • The EXT-X-I-FRAME-STREAM-INF tag
    • The EXT-X-I-FRAMES-ONLY tag
    • The EXT-X-MEDIA tag
    • The AUDIO and VIDEO attributes of the EXT-X-STREAM-INF tag
    • PSDK alternate audio