Casting Protocol

Explanation

A casting protocol is a wireless communication standard that enables a source device (phone, tablet, laptop) to send video and audio to a display device (smart TV, Chromecast, streaming stick) over a local Wi-Fi network. Google Cast (used in Chromecast, Chromecast built-in TVs, and compatible speakers) is the most widely supported casting protocol across streaming apps. Apple AirPlay 2 enables casting from iPhone, iPad, and Mac to Apple TV and AirPlay 2-compatible smart TVs. Miracast is an open standard used by Android devices and Windows computers to cast to compatible displays without Wi-Fi routing. The key difference from screen mirroring: casting offloads streaming to the receiving device (the TV fetches the stream itself), while mirroring duplicates the source screen. Casting produces better video quality and lower battery drain on the source device.