audioonly

Audio-only refers to media or communications delivered and consumed without video content. It describes formats, platforms, and services that transmit sound exclusively, including podcasts, radio broadcasts, audiobooks, and voice chats or streams that do not include video.

In practice, audio-only materials rely on audio codecs such as MP3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, or Opus, often delivered as downloadable files or streaming. Podcasts typically use MP3 or AAC in an episodic RSS feed, while live or on-demand streaming may use HTTP-based protocols with audio segments. Metadata, transcripts, and cover art are used to aid discovery and navigation in audio libraries.

Advantages include lower bandwidth and data usage, easier access on limited networks or devices, and the ability to multitask or focus on listening. It can also improve accessibility for visually impaired users. Limitations include the absence of visual information that can aid comprehension, cues, or branding; challenges in conveying complex data without visuals; varying audio quality depending on encoding and network conditions; and reliance on good indexing and search metadata for discovery.

Common domains are podcasts, radio-like streams, and audiobooks, with platforms such as podcast apps, streaming services, and digital libraries providing access. Audio-only formats are also used in teleconferencing and live events when video is unnecessary or bandwidth-constrained.