Live View — WebCodecs H.264 Streaming
From v1.21.0, the Live View page uses the browser's native WebCodecs API to display a direct H.264 stream via WebSockets.
🔍 How to verify WebCodecs is active
- Open the Live View page in a supported browser (Chrome 94+, Edge 94+).
- Hover over any active camera tile. Bottom-left badge:
WS / H.264(Green) vsJPEG Poll(Yellow). - Open DevTools → Network → WS to see the binary stream.
🌐 Browser Compatibility
| Browser | WebCodecs Support | Streaming Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome 94+ | ✅ | H.264 via WebCodecs |
| Edge 94+ | ✅ | H.264 via WebCodecs |
| Firefox | ❌ | Falls back to MJPEG/JPEG polling |
| Safari | Partial | Falls back to MJPEG/JPEG polling |
🔒 Secure Context Requirement
WebCodecs strictly requires a Secure Context:
1. Access via http://localhost:8080.
2. Access via https://... (Reverse Proxy).
Insecure local IP access (http://192.168.x.x) will fall back to JPEG polling.
⚙️ Streaming Mode Selection
You can override the streaming technology:
1. Global Default: Settings → General Preferences.
2. Per-Camera: Settings → Cameras -> Live View Mode:
- Auto: Optimal performance with WebCodecs fallback.
- Force WebCodecs: Explicit H.264.
- Force JPEG Polling: Legacy approach for maximum compatibility.