ABR

ABR is an acronym that can refer to several different organizations and technical terms. Notable uses include Adaptive bitrate streaming, Average bit rate, and the American Board of Radiology.

Adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR) is a method for delivering multimedia where a streaming client selects from multiple encoded representations of the same content based on current network conditions and device capability. The client switches between quality levels to maintain smooth playback, with the goal of reducing buffering. ABR is widely used in HTTP-based streaming technologies such as Apple HLS and MPEG-DASH. While it improves resilience to bandwidth fluctuations, it can introduce brief quality changes and, in live scenarios, additional latency due to buffering and segment scheduling.

Average bit rate (ABR) refers to the average data rate of a transmission or encoding over a period of time, typically expressed in bits per second. In networking, ABR is used to assess performance and quality of service. In video encoding, ABR can denote a target or achievable average bitrate used to balance visual quality against file size and bandwidth use.

The American Board of Radiology (ABR) is a U.S. medical certification organization responsible for certifying radiologists. It administers board examinations and maintains certification standards for radiology physicians. The ABR operates as part of the system of medical specialty boards and requires ongoing continuing certification for credential maintenance.