Progressive Download

A method of delivering audio/video data over the Internet that involves playing a segment, often the initial downloaded portion of a file, while the remaining content download is still in progress. Even more recent standards, such as DASH, use a version of progressive download, dividing the entire stream in to a series of segments of several seconds each, and playing segments after they have downloaded. True progressive download did not initially allow for "trick play" (rewind or fast-forward or chaptering or seek) but DASH and other newer standards eliminate these barriers.