name: Twitch description: >- Vocabulary and taxonomy for Twitch API concepts, streaming terminology, and platform-specific terms used across the Twitch developer ecosystem. created: "2026-05-03" modified: "2026-05-03" tags: - Twitch - Streaming - Gaming - Live Video terms: # Core Platform Concepts - term: Broadcaster definition: >- A Twitch user who streams live video content to an audience. May be an affiliate or partner with access to additional features. tags: [User, Identity] - term: Viewer definition: >- A Twitch user who watches a stream. Viewers can interact via chat, cheer Bits, subscribe, and follow channels. tags: [User, Audience] - term: Channel definition: >- A broadcaster's dedicated space on Twitch where they stream content. Channels have titles, categories, tags, and subscriber counts. tags: [Content, Identity] - term: Stream definition: >- A live video broadcast from a broadcaster's channel. Streams have a viewer count, language, category, and title. tags: [Content, Live] - term: Clip definition: >- A short video segment captured from a live stream or VOD by a viewer. Clips are publicly shareable and have a maximum duration of 60 seconds. tags: [Content, Video] - term: VOD definition: >- Video on Demand. A recorded archive of a past broadcast, accessible after a stream has ended (subject to broadcast settings). tags: [Content, Video] # Monetization - term: Bits definition: >- Virtual currency that viewers use to cheer in chat. Each Bit is worth $0.01 USD to the broadcaster. tags: [Monetization, Currency] - term: Subscription definition: >- A recurring monthly payment by a viewer to support a broadcaster. Subscriptions come in Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 levels. tags: [Monetization] - term: Channel Points definition: >- A loyalty program where viewers earn points by watching streams and redeem them for broadcaster-defined rewards. tags: [Monetization, Engagement] - term: Drops definition: >- An in-game reward system where viewers earn game items by watching affiliated streams. tags: [Monetization, Gaming] # Authentication - term: OAuth 2.0 definition: >- The authorization framework used by Twitch. Supports Authorization Code Flow for user tokens and Client Credentials Flow for app access tokens. tags: [Authentication, Security] - term: User Access Token definition: >- An OAuth token tied to a specific Twitch user, required for user-scoped API operations like managing channel settings or sending messages. tags: [Authentication, Token] - term: App Access Token definition: >- An OAuth token generated using the Client Credentials flow for application-level access to public data. tags: [Authentication, Token] - term: Scope definition: >- A permission level requested during OAuth authorization that grants access to specific API operations. tags: [Authentication, Security] # Real-Time - term: EventSub definition: >- Twitch's webhook and WebSocket-based subscription service for receiving real-time event notifications (e.g., new followers, subscriptions, raids). tags: [Events, Real-Time, Webhooks] - term: Conduit definition: >- An EventSub transport that enables distributing event notifications across multiple WebSocket shards for high-scale applications. tags: [Events, Real-Time, Scale] - term: Webhook definition: >- An HTTP callback URL that Twitch calls when subscribed events occur. Requires HMAC signature verification. tags: [Events, Integration] # Social - term: Follow definition: >- A user action that subscribes them to a channel's live notifications without a financial commitment. tags: [Social, Engagement] - term: Raid definition: >- A feature where a broadcaster sends their viewers to another channel at the end of their own stream. tags: [Social, Community] - term: Hype Train definition: >- A platform feature triggered when many viewers support a channel with subscriptions or Bits in a short period. tags: [Engagement, Community] # Developer - term: Client ID definition: >- A public identifier for a Twitch developer application, required as a header on all API requests. tags: [Developer, Authentication] - term: Extension definition: >- An interactive, sandboxed iframe overlay or panel that runs on Twitch channels, built with the Twitch Extensions framework. tags: [Developer, Integration] - term: IGDB definition: >- Internet Game Database. A comprehensive video game metadata service owned by Twitch, accessible via a separate API. tags: [Gaming, Database] - term: Apicalypse definition: >- The query language used by the IGDB API. Queries are sent as POST body text to filter, sort, and select game data fields. tags: [IGDB, Query Language] # Content Categories - term: Category definition: >- A game, show, or activity that a broadcaster selects to describe their stream content. Formerly called "Game" in the API. tags: [Content, Taxonomy] - term: Tag definition: >- A keyword or descriptor applied to a stream or channel to help viewers find relevant content. tags: [Content, Discovery]