LiveKit is an end-to-end realtime stack for connecting humans and AI, built on WebRTC infrastructure. It provides a distributed SFU server, production-ready media pipeline, and multi-language SDKs that expose audio, video, data channels, and streaming capabilities for both self-hosted and cloud-hosted deployments.
Key Features
- Scalable SFU server designed for multi-region, high-concurrency conferencing with selective forwarding
- Cross-platform SDKs covering JavaScript, iOS, Android, Flutter, Unity, and Rust for broad client compatibility
- Production-grade operations including JWT authentication, webhooks, egress recording, and RTMP/WHIP ingress
- Straightforward deployment via a single binary, Docker images, and Kubernetes examples
- gRPC and HTTP control APIs with JSON and Protobuf payloads for flexible programmatic integration
Use Cases
- Building multi-party video conferencing, low-latency interactive classrooms, and live streaming platforms
- Powering real-time AI applications such as voice assistants and live transcription by combining media streams with AI services
- Self-hosted deployments for compliance requirements or LiveKit Cloud for faster time-to-market
- Connecting AI agents to live audio and video feeds for interactive, multimodal experiences
Technical Highlights
- Media optimizations include SVC, simulcast, AV1/VP9 codec support, and built-in jitter and latency mitigation
- Built-in metrics and Prometheus-compatible endpoints provide operational observability
- Open-sourced under Apache-2.0 with an active community and regular releases