Streaming

Data streaming, commonly seen in the forms of audio and video streaming, is when a multimedia file can be played back without being completely downloaded first. Most files, like shareware and software updates that you download off the Internet, are not streaming data. However, certain audio and video files like Real Audio and QuickTime documents can be streaming files, meaning you can watch a video or listen to a sound file while it’s being downloaded to your computer. With a fast Internet connection, you can actually stream live audio or video to your computer.

Definition from The Tech Terms Dictionary