Audio Streaming or Networked Audio is one-way audio transmission over a data network. It is widely used to listen to music and radio from the Internet on computers, tablets and smartphones. In addition, computers are commonly set up to stream a user's music collection to a digital media hub connected to a stereo or home theater. Computers and mobile devices may also stream directly to powered speakers via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Unlike music files that are downloaded and played at any time in the future, a streamed song is played immediately after a small amount of audio data is received, and the song file is not stored permanently in the destination device.