A podcast is a series of spoken-word episodes, usually audio and sometimes video, published online so people can stream, download or subscribe to new episodes automatically. The name blends "iPod" and "broadcast", though podcasts are not tied to any one device.
Why it matters
Podcasts give creators and businesses a direct way to reach an audience without a broadcaster. Distribution works through an open standard: the show publishes an RSS feed, and podcast apps and directories read that feed to list new episodes. Because the feed is open, a creator can host audio on their own server or a hosting provider and still appear in many apps.
Example
A feed entry for an episode includes a title, a description and an audio file location:
<item>
<title>Episode 12: Uptime basics</title>
<enclosure url="https://example.com/ep12.mp3" type="audio/mpeg" length="24500000"/>
</item>The enclosure tag points apps to the audio file, which they fetch on the listener's behalf.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a podcast needs an exclusive platform. Most are open RSS feeds.
- Hosting large audio files on a small web server that cannot handle many downloads.
- Changing the feed address without a redirect, which loses subscribers.
Related
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