Glossary for Beginners
What This Is
This is a short, beginner-friendly glossary of the most important terms you’ll encounter in your first week with Stremio. Each term includes:
- A simple definition
- Why it matters
- A link to more detailed info (when relevant)
For a complete glossary with 80+ terms, see the Full Glossary.
Core Concepts
Stremio
What it is: The media center app you’re using—the software that organizes and plays content.
Why it matters: Stremio itself doesn’t host content; it’s just the interface. Everything you see comes from add-ons.
Think of it like: A web browser for video content.
Add-on
What it is: A plugin or extension that connects Stremio to a source of content (movies, shows, streams, metadata, etc.).
Why it matters: Add-ons are how Stremio gets content. No add-ons = no content.
Examples: YouTube (videos), Cinemeta (metadata), OpenSubtitles (subtitles).
Learn more: Add-ons Explained
Catalog
What it is: A collection or list of movies, shows, or videos provided by an add-on.
Why it matters: When you browse the Discover page, you’re seeing catalogs from your installed add-ons.
Example: The “Trending on YouTube” row is a catalog from the YouTube add-on.
Think of it like: A shelf in a library—each add-on has its own shelves (catalogs).
Metadata
What it is: Information about a movie or show—like the poster, title, description, cast, release date, and ratings.
Why it matters: Metadata makes Stremio look polished and helps you decide what to watch. It’s separate from the actual video stream.
Example: When you see a nice poster and plot summary for a movie, that’s metadata.
Learn more: Metadata Explained
Stream
What it is: A playable source for a video—the actual file or link that Stremio will use to play content.
Why it matters: When you click “Play” on a movie, Stremio asks your add-ons to find streams. You pick which stream to use (or Stremio picks automatically).
Example: A stream might be a torrent link, a direct video file, or a YouTube URL.
Think of it like: Different TV channels broadcasting the same show—each stream is a different “channel.”
Library
What it is: Your personal collection in Stremio—the movies and shows you’ve added to your watchlist or marked as watched.
Why it matters: Your library syncs across devices (if you have an account) and helps you keep track of what you’re watching.
How to use it: Click the ”+” or bookmark icon on any title to add it to your library.
Learn more: Library, Watchlist & History
Streaming & Playback
Buffering
What it is: When the video pauses to load more data before continuing playback.
Why it matters: Excessive buffering is frustrating. It usually means your internet is too slow, unstable, or the stream source is overloaded.
How to fix it: See Playback & Buffering
Torrent
What it is: A peer-to-peer file-sharing protocol. Instead of downloading from one server, you download pieces from many users at once.
Why it matters: Some add-ons use torrents as stream sources. Important: Torrenting copyrighted content without permission is illegal in most countries.
How it works in Stremio: Stremio streams torrents directly (you don’t download the full file), but your IP is still visible to others in the torrent swarm.
Safety note: Using torrent-based add-ons for copyrighted content is a legal and privacy risk.
Debrid Service
What it is: A paid service (e.g., Real-Debrid, AllDebrid) that downloads torrents or file-host links to its servers, then streams them to you at high speed.
Why it matters: Debrid services can improve speed and reduce buffering, but they’re often used to access pirated content.
Legal note: Using a debrid service for content you don’t have rights to is still illegal.
This guide’s stance: We explain what debrid is but don’t provide setup instructions for piracy use cases.
Subtitles
What it is: Text displayed on-screen that transcribes or translates the audio.
Why it matters: Essential for accessibility (deaf/hard of hearing) and language learning.
How to use in Stremio: Add a subtitle add-on (like OpenSubtitles), then enable subtitles in the player settings.
Learn more: Player, Subtitles & Audio
Account & Syncing
Stremio Account
What it is: A free account you create with Stremio (using an email and password) that lets you sync your library and settings.
Why it matters: Without an account, your data stays local to your device. With an account, you can seamlessly switch between devices.
How to create: See First 10 Minutes Setup
Sync / Syncing
What it is: The automatic process of keeping your library, watchlist, and settings the same across all your devices.
Why it matters: Start watching on your laptop, finish on your TV—your progress follows you.
How it works: When you have a Stremio account, your data is stored in the cloud and syncs automatically.
Learn more: Sync & Multiple Devices
Content Types
Movie
What it is: A standalone film (as opposed to an episodic TV show).
Why it matters: Self-explanatory, but Stremio organizes movies and TV shows separately.
TV Show / Series
What it is: Episodic content organized into seasons and episodes.
Why it matters: Stremio tracks which episodes you’ve watched and lets you binge-watch easily.
Channel
What it is: In the context of YouTube or Twitch add-ons, a “channel” is a creator’s collection of videos or streams.
Why it matters: You can subscribe to channels within Stremio (via add-ons) and see new uploads.
Live TV
What it is: Real-time streaming of television broadcasts (like news or sports).
Why it matters: Some add-ons provide live TV channels. Legal availability varies by region.
Technical Terms (Simplified)
HTTPS / HTTP
What it is: Protocols for transferring data over the internet. HTTPS is secure (encrypted), HTTP is not.
Why it matters: Secure add-ons and streams use HTTPS. If an add-on uses HTTP, your activity might be visible to others.
IP Address
What it is: A unique number that identifies your device on the internet (like a home address).
Why it matters: When you stream (especially torrents), other users can see your IP. This is a privacy concern.
How to protect it: Use a VPN (though this has legal and ethical considerations—see Privacy Basics).
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
What it is: A service that encrypts your internet connection and hides your IP address by routing traffic through a server in another location.
Why it matters: Some users use VPNs to hide streaming activity from their ISP or to bypass geo-restrictions.
Legal note: A VPN doesn’t make illegal streaming legal—it just hides it.
This guide’s stance: We explain what VPNs are but don’t promote using them to evade copyright law.
Cache
What it is: Temporary data stored on your device to speed up loading times.
Why it matters: Stremio caches posters, metadata, and stream data. Clearing the cache can fix some bugs.
How to clear it: Settings → Advanced → Clear Cache
Sideloading
What it is: Installing an app from outside the official app store (e.g., installing an APK file on Android instead of using Google Play).
Why it matters: Some Stremio add-ons or unofficial versions require sideloading. Be careful—this can be a security risk.
Safety note: Only sideload from trusted sources. Never disable device security to install something.
Safety & Legal Terms
Copyright
What it is: Legal protection for creative works (movies, music, books, etc.). Copyright holders have exclusive rights to distribute and profit from their work.
Why it matters: Streaming or sharing copyrighted content without permission is illegal.
Piracy
What it is: Unauthorized copying, distribution, or streaming of copyrighted content.
Why it matters: Many Stremio add-ons facilitate piracy. Using them is illegal and risky.
This guide’s stance: We teach you how to avoid piracy, not how to do it.
DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act)
What it is: A U.S. law that penalizes copyright infringement online.
Why it matters: ISPs in the U.S. can send DMCA notices if you’re caught streaming or torrenting copyrighted content.
What to do if you get one: Stop the activity, delete the content, and review Safety & Legality.
ISP (Internet Service Provider)
What it is: The company that provides your internet connection (e.g., Comcast, Verizon, BT, Telstra).
Why it matters: Your ISP can see your streaming activity (unless you use a VPN). They can throttle, warn, or even suspend your service if you violate their terms.
Malware
What it is: Malicious software designed to harm your device, steal data, or spy on you.
Why it matters: Fake or untrustworthy add-ons can contain malware.
How to avoid it: Only install add-ons from trusted sources. See Avoiding Suspicious Add-ons.
Common Abbreviations
- TV: Television
- VOD: Video on Demand
- P2P: Peer-to-Peer (like torrents)
- IPTV: Internet Protocol Television (streaming live TV over the internet)
- UI: User Interface (what you see and interact with)
- API: Application Programming Interface (how add-ons talk to services)
- OS: Operating System (Windows, macOS, Android, etc.)
Not Sure About a Term?
If you encounter a term not listed here:
- Check the Full Glossary (80+ terms with cross-links)
- Search this documentation site (use the search bar at the top)
- Google it with “Stremio” included (e.g., “Stremio catalog meaning”)
Bookmark this page. You’ll refer back to it often in your first few weeks with Stremio.
Next Steps
Ready to dive deeper?
- Full Glossary—Complete reference
- Add-ons Explained—Deep dive into the add-on ecosystem
- Metadata Explained—Understand how Stremio organizes content