What is video conferencing?

Video conferencing is a live meeting over the internet in which two or more people in different places see and hear each other, usually with extras such as screen sharing, chat and a shared whiteboard. It is how remote teams meet, how tutors teach online and how many families keep in touch.

How a video conference works

Capture. Your camera and microphone record you, and your device compresses the picture and sound so they fit through your internet connection.
Signalling. A server introduces the participants to each other and agrees how they will connect. This is what happens when you open a meeting link.
Transport. The video and audio travel either directly between participants (peer-to-peer) or through a media server that receives everyone's stream and forwards it to the others.
Playback. Each device decodes the streams it receives and shows the other participants on screen.

Peer-to-peer works best for small calls: it has low delay, and the video never passes through a server. Media servers are needed for large meetings, webinars and recordings. Abeedesk, for example, connects up to 4 people directly. See how peer-to-peer calls work.

Video call or video conference?

The terms overlap. A video call usually means a conversation between two or a few people, often started on the spot. A video conference usually means a planned meeting, sometimes with many participants and tools for presenting, such as screen sharing, hand raising, recording and breakout rooms.

Types of video conferencing

One-on-one calls: interviews, consultations, tutoring and family calls.
Team meetings: stand-ups, planning sessions and reviews with a handful of people.
Webinars and town halls: one or a few presenters and a large audience that mostly watches.
Room systems: meeting rooms with a wall screen, a conference camera and a microphone array that connect to remote participants.

What you need

A device: a computer, tablet or phone. Most laptops and all phones have a camera and microphone built in.
An internet connection: a stable broadband or 4G/5G connection is enough for most calls. Wired or close-to-the-router Wi-Fi helps.
Software: an app such as Zoom or Teams, or a browser-based tool such as Google Meet or Abeedesk that needs no install.
Optional extras: headphones with a microphone (they remove echo), an external webcam, and a light facing you.

Is video conferencing secure?

Modern tools encrypt calls in transit. The bigger differences are in what is stored: some services record meetings, keep chat history or analyse calls on their servers. For confidential conversations, look for end-to-end encryption or direct peer-to-peer connections, lock the meeting once everyone has joined, and share links only with the people invited. See private client consultations.

Tips for better video meetings

Use headphones to avoid echo, and mute when you are not speaking in larger meetings.
Put the camera at eye level and face a window or a lamp.
Share a single window rather than your whole screen. See screen sharing.
Send the link with the agenda, and start on time.
Keep it short. Many meetings work better as a 10-minute call.

For a beginner-friendly walkthrough, read how to make a video call.

Questions people ask

What is the difference between video conferencing and web conferencing?

Web conferencing is the broader term for online meetings, including audio-only meetings, presentations and webinars. Video conferencing puts the participants' video at the centre.

How many people can join a video conference?

It depends on the tool: from 4 people in Abeedesk rooms to hundreds or thousands in large meeting and webinar platforms.

Do I need an account to join a video conference?

Usually not. Most tools let guests join from a link. Some, like Abeedesk, do not need an account even to start a meeting.

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