Streaming video has made playing media files online infinitely easier; instead of having to transfer large, cumbersome hunks of data, we can, in theory, simply press play and watch. This means no lengthy waiting for files to download so we can view content immediately, at the quick touch of a button.
The process is not without its problems, however. While streaming video should, ideally, proceed smoothly, without a hitches and hiccups, this is not always the case. Often, a video will be held up while it buffers, and this can be frustrating for the viewer. Whether you're watching an instructional video detailing how to make printed t-shirts, or you're catching up on current affairs on a news website, you'll need to take the same steps to ensure your viewing material begins to run smoothly. To start with, you should press pause on the media player; this will give the file time to load.
Next, you'll want to close all other windows and shut down non-essential programmes that may be running on your computer and slowing things up. If your video is still hesitating and jerking, close all other tabs on your internet browser as well.
If, after you've taken all of these measures your video still isn't running smoothly, you may want to check that your computer has enough RAM. If your computer is a couple of years old, it may be lacking the resources to handle the tasks you are throwing at it.
