synchronized multimedia integration language (XML) (SMIL)

Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL) is an XML-baseddescription language for multimedia presentations. SMIL is a standard of the W3C consortium, is used in streaming media and in the Multimedia Messaging Service( MMS), and can synchronize multimedia content.

With SMIL, multimedia content consisting of graphics, audio, video, and text can be combined regardless of their file formats. Authors can use SMIL to specify which object should be displayed or played when and where. It allows synchronization of sequential audio files, video files and text files. SMIL uses much fewer terms than Javascript or Dynamic HypertextMarkup Language( DHTML), which can be activated with a text editor. SMIL allows time-based changes to the elements of the SMIL document. Elements can be moved and time-coordinated on excellent paths, they can be reduced or enlarged or vary in colors. Video sequences can be overlaid with texts or graphics.

As transport protocols SMIL uses the Realtime Transport Protocol( RTP) and the secure Secure Realtime Transport Protocol( SRTP).

SMIL is available in several versions. The first version SMIL 1.0 was already adopted in 1998. InSMIL 2.0, which dates from 2001, there are various structural changes. So it is possible that SMIL can be integrated into other XML-capable file formats. Among other things, stand-alone animations are possible with SMIL 2.0. SMIL 3.0 was introduced in 2006 and offers increased functionality compared to SMIL 2.0.