--- title: 5 uses of the WebRTC Data Channel description: WebRTC is for more than just video chat, WebRTC also provides a Peer-to-Peer Data Channel that you can use for encrypted data exchange. image: https://blog.webrtc.ventures/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/5UsesOfTheWebRTCDataChannel1.png --- [Skip to content](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/2016/05/5-uses-of-the-data-channel#main-content) ![WebRTC.ventures](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/hubfs/logo-main-light.svg) - [WebRTC Services](https://webrtc.ventures/webrtc-development-services/) Show submenu for WebRTC Services - [Assess](https://webrtc.ventures/services/assess/) - [Build](https://webrtc.ventures/services/build/) - [Integrate](https://webrtc.ventures/services/integrate/) - [Test](https://webrtc.ventures/services/test/) - [Manage](https://webrtc.ventures/services/manage/) - [Migrating From Twilio Video](https://webrtc.ventures/twilio-video/) - Our Partners Show submenu for Our Partners - [Amazon Chime SDK](https://webrtc.ventures/partners/amazon-chime-sdk/) - 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WebRTC Resources Show submenu for WebRTC Resources - [WebRTC Live](https://webrtc.ventures/webrtc-live/) - [WebRTC Tips](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLayYqdnyegt3QvxX-Rt6wbFIK8727Z5Oz) - [WebRTC.ventures Blog](https://webrtc.ventures/blog/) - [Migrating From Twilio Video](https://webrtc.ventures/twilio-video/) - [WebRTC.ventures Training Program](https://webrtc.ventures/webrtc-ventures-training-program/) - [About Us](https://webrtc.ventures/our-team/) Show submenu for About Us - [Blog](https://webrtc.ventures/blog/) - [Our Team](https://webrtc.ventures/our-team/) - [Jobs](https://webrtc.ventures/jobs/) - [Contact us](https://webrtc.ventures/contact/) [Contact us](https://webrtc.ventures/contact/) May 11, 2016 12:00:00 AM # 5 uses of the WebRTC Data Channel [ArinSime](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/author/arinsime) Share: [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.webrtc.ventures/2016/05/5-uses-of-the-data-channel) [X Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.webrtc.ventures/2016/05/5-uses-of-the-data-channel) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://blog.webrtc.ventures/2016/05/5-uses-of-the-data-channel) The **DataChannel** is often a second-class citizen of the **WebRTC** eco-system. WebRTC is increasingly well known because of the ability to easily get access to the camera and microphone from a user’s laptop, using only javascript. This video and audio combination, combined with the **Peer to Peer (P2P) architecture of WebRTC**, has opened up many applications involving **secure video chat**. **Telehealth** apps, **video conferencing** in the browser, **collaboration** tools, **telepresence** solutions, and more … all of them are interesting applications based on **WebRTC video chat**. [![The RTCPeerConnection allows for Peer to Peer exchange of video, audio, and data via WebRTC](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/WebRTC_Overview-1024x497-2.png?width=1024&height=497&name=WebRTC_Overview-1024x497-2.png) ![The RTCPeerConnection allows for Peer to Peer exchange of video, audio, and data via WebRTC](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/WebRTC_Overview-1024x497-2.png?width=1024&height=497&name=WebRTC_Overview-1024x497-2.png)](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/WebRTC_Overview-2.png) Those of us building WebRTC apps all the time certainly enjoy the creative ways that video and audio can be used in the browser, but I also yearn to see more Data Channel related applications. **When the Data Channel is used, it’s often as a secondary feature, something that is second class the main video chat functionality of the app.** On May 12th 2016, I hosted the **RealTimeWeekly Show**, and our guest discussed an interesting use of the WebRTC Data Channel. **Dennis Mårtensson, CTO and co-founder of [Greta.io](https://greta.io/), is our guest to discuss [how the Data Channel is used for Content Delivery Networks](http://realtimeweekly.co/greta-io-realtimeweekly-show/)**, and what he’s learned working with the Data Channel for the last couple of years. I’ve linked to the video below, and if you want to know about future RealTimeWeekly Shows, **[check out RealTimeWeekly for free!](http://realtimeweekly.co/)** [![Check out our webinar with Greta.io about the WebRTC Data Channel](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/RTWShow_Greta_banner-1.jpg?width=750&height=200&name=RTWShow_Greta_banner-1.jpg) ![Check out our webinar with Greta.io about the WebRTC Data Channel](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/RTWShow_Greta_banner-1.jpg?width=750&height=200&name=RTWShow_Greta_banner-1.jpg)](http://realtimeweekly.co/greta-io-realtimeweekly-show/) ## Most common use cases for the WebRTC Data Channel ### #1 Text chat You’re already using WebRTC for secure, encrypted, P2P video chat, so why not also use it for the text chat boxes that typically go along with video chat apps? ### #2 File Transfer By breaking up your file into small bits, you can send it across the Data Channel and re-assemble it on the other side for the receiving user(s). This is a secure solution for transfering medical files in a telehealth application for example. ## Additional use cases for the WebRTC Data Channel ### #3 Gaming This is often given as an example of using the Data Channel for localized data in a massive multiplayer online game. **Why bog down a centralized WebSockets server with position and command data that only gamers in a certain room care about?** The DataChannel could be used over an RTCPeerConnection containing only gamers in a certain local area. That channel exchanges information only of interest to those in the area, like where you are looking or aiming a weapon. Keeping that data on the DataChannel reduces load on the central gaming server and may also reduce latency between local players. For more information, [see my blog post on the Data Channel at WebRTC Hacks](https://webrtchacks.com/datachannel-multiplayer-game/). ### #4 IoT/Streaming Data Perhaps you have some sort of **streaming or real time data** that you want to share on a dashboard. That data could be complementary to the video chat going on, or it might be completely independent of any use of the video/audio channels of WebRTC. **The Data Channel could be a good solution for this, especially if you prefer the data is exchanged directly between peers, and not through a central server.** For example, there is a variant on “cloud computing” called “**fog computing**“. In fog computing, imagine that you have lots of IoT devices that need to share data with each other, but that data is never sent up to a central server. Those devices make up a fog of computers with no central point, and they could be talking to each other over the WebRTC Data Channel. [I did a talk at WebRTC Boston about the IoT and WebRTC](https://webrtc.ventures/2016/03/iot-and-webrtc-presentation/) that talks more about this. ## #5 The Data Channel and Content Delivery Networks One additional use case of the Data Channel is [what I’ll be talking about with Dennis Mårtensson of Greta.io on May 12th 2016.](http://realtimeweekly.co/greta-io-realtimeweekly-show/) Greta is a Content Delivery Network that uses the WebRTC Data Channel to share data between site visitors who are geographically close to each other. [![A worldwide Content Delivery Network for static content can use P2P connections between visitors on the WebRTC Data Channel to augment the CDN servers](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/WebRTC_CDN-1024x648-1.png?width=1024&height=648&name=WebRTC_CDN-1024x648-1.png) ![A worldwide Content Delivery Network for static content can use P2P connections between visitors on the WebRTC Data Channel to augment the CDN servers](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/WebRTC_CDN-1024x648-1.png?width=1024&height=648&name=WebRTC_CDN-1024x648-1.png)](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/WebRTC_CDN.png) A **Content Delivery Network** allows static resources on your site to be served up from other servers, reducing the load on your site. Instead of a traditional CDN however, the **WebRTC Data Channel** allows you to do some **Peer to Peer file exchange** directly between visitors to your site. If you want to learn more about the use of WebRTC for Peer to Peer file exchange in a Content Delivery Network scenario, check out our discussion with Greta.io CTO Dennis Mårtensson: ## What other use cases can you imagine? **Do you have other ideas for the WebRTC Data Channel, or do you know of some other interesting uses cases and blog posts about it? Feel free to share them in the comments section below!** [CPaaS](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/cpaas), [Managed Services](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/managed-services), [Events](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/events), [Video Conferencing](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/video-conferencing), [Real Time Weekly](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/real-time-weekly), [WebRTC Architecture](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/webrtc-architecture), [Broadcasting](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/broadcasting), [Medical](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/medical), [WebRTC Live](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/webrtc-live), [Showcase](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/showcase), [Thoughts](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/thoughts), [Vonage](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/vonage), [Daily](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/daily), [Jobs](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/jobs), [Contact Centers](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/contact-centers), [Telehealth](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/telehealth), [Education](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/education), [Technical](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/technical), [General](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/general), [Story of success](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/story-of-success), [The WebRTC.ventures Blog](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/the-webrtc-ventures-blog), [Testing](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/testing), [Gaming](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/gaming), [DevOps](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/devops), [Symbl.ai](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/tag/symbl-ai) ## Related posts [![](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IoT_WebRTC_sensors.png?height=200&name=IoT_WebRTC_sensors.png)](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/2015/12/webrtc-and-iot-sensors) ## [WebRTC and IoT Sensors](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/2015/12/webrtc-and-iot-sensors) [ArinSime](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/author/arinsime) Dec 16, 2015 12:00:00 AM WebRTC is not just video – it’s Data too! WebRTC is not just about video chat, although that is... [Read more](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/2015/12/webrtc-and-iot-sensors) [![](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/cardgame_shutterstock1.jpg?height=200&name=cardgame_shutterstock1.jpg)](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/2015/09/p2p-gaming-webrtc-data-channel) ## [How to build a P2P game with the WebRTC Data Channel](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/2015/09/p2p-gaming-webrtc-data-channel) [ArinSime](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/author/arinsime) Sep 3, 2015 12:00:00 AM P2P Game with the WebRTC Data Channel WebRTC gets a lot of attention because of the video and audio... [Read more](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/2015/09/p2p-gaming-webrtc-data-channel) [![](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/MobileWebRTC2.png?height=200&name=MobileWebRTC2.png)](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/2015/12/worst-part-of-webrtc-mobile-apps) ## [The worst part of building WebRTC mobile apps](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/2015/12/worst-part-of-webrtc-mobile-apps) [ArinSime](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/author/arinsime) Dec 10, 2015 12:00:00 AM Software development is hard, especially when you are working with a cutting edge technology like... [Read more](https://blog.webrtc.ventures/2015/12/worst-part-of-webrtc-mobile-apps) ### WebRTC.Ventures Services ... - Assess - Build - Integrate - Test - Deploy & Manage ### Contact Us ... **Video should be an opportunity, not a headache.** We’re here to build, integrate, assess and optimize, test, and even deploy and manage your live video application. 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