Using WebRTC to implement P2P video streaming

Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) is a versatile open-source standard that facilitates real-time peer-to-peer (P2P) communication between web applications without requiring plugins or extra software. Compatible with all modern browsers and available as a library for mobile apps, WebRTC is employed by major applications like Google Meet, WhatsApp, and Discord for functionalities similar to live-streaming services but on a smaller scale. Key concepts in WebRTC include peer-to-peer communication, signal servers for initiating communication, and the ICE protocol for establishing connections across different networks. The article details how to build a P2P video streaming application using WebRTC and explores signaling through the Broadcast Channel API and a custom signal server built with Node.js. This comprehensive guide provides insights into setting up video streaming within a single webpage, across browser tabs using BroadcastChannel, and ultimately replacing BroadcastChannel with a signal server for communication beyond browser contexts. The tutorial is supplemented with detailed explanations of code implementations and aims to provide a foundational understanding of WebRTC's P2P streaming capabilities.