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API tutorial

How to Use the Wowza Video REST API: Examples and Use Cases

A practical guide to Wowza Video REST API v2.0 eligibility, JWT authentication, WebRTC stream creation, RTMP source setup, lifecycle controls, and playback checks.

By DocumentaryTube Team 6 min read
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The current product documentation calls this service Wowza Video: its REST API v2.0 is the current version, while v1.x is legacy. Before writing code, confirm that your account has moved to Wowza’s new Video UI; accounts that have not migrated cannot access v2.0. If you are eligible, the practical path is to create a live stream, connect a WebRTC or RTMP source, start it through the API, and verify that playback actually works.

Check API access and choose a workflow

Wowza’s REST API overview describes v2.0 as current and v1.x as legacy. The v2.0 Live Streams reference also notes that v2.0 access depends on migration to the new Wowza Video UI. Check your account and the current version lifecycle or release notes before building against an endpoint. Do not treat older v1.x request bodies as interchangeable with v2.0.

Pick the source and control model

  • WebRTC: The v2.0 quick start demonstrates creating a live stream, connecting a source, using a Wowza-hosted player page, and controlling start and stop through API calls. It fits applications that need to provision a broadcast as part of an event or operations workflow.
  • RTMP encoder: A Wowza stream source can provide connection details for an encoder such as OBS. The source guide describes automatic start when the source begins and stopping after disconnection. Use the encoder’s own documentation for its field names.
  • Higher-level versus lower-level setup: The /live_streams workflow can wrap setup for a transcoder, renditions, stream targets, and an associated player. A more explicit /transcoders workflow gives you lower-level configuration control. These are different workflow scopes, not universally better or worse choices.

Prepare authentication and requests

API calls use HTTP and JSON. The base URL pattern is https://api.video.wowza.com/api/[version]/; for v2.0, the reference server is https://api.video.wowza.com/api/v2.0. Authenticate each request with a JWT in Authorization: Bearer [JWT]. For POST and PATCH requests, send Content-Type: application/json.

Create and protect a token

Wowza’s quick start describes personal tokens for user-linked testing and system tokens, available to organization owners, for production integrations intended to persist if an individual leaves. The token is shown only once when created, so store it securely. Keep it out of source control, public snippets, and logs; never embed a real token in an article, client-side app, or shared shell history.

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export WV_JWT='YOUR_TOKEN_HERE'
export WOWZA_API='https://api.video.wowza.com/api/v2.0'

curl -H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" 
     -H 'Accept: application/json' 
     "${WOWZA_API}/live_streams"

This GET illustrates the shared authentication pattern; use the current endpoint reference for the exact path, parameters, and body required by the operation you need. Wowza documents POST to create records, GET to retrieve them, PATCH to update selected attributes, PUT for actions or entity state changes such as start and stop, and DELETE to remove records. Some GET responses may be cached, so consult Wowza’s response-caching documentation if a fresh read is important.

Create and start a WebRTC live stream

The current Wowza Video v2.0 WebRTC quick start is the safest end-to-end starting point for a code-controlled broadcast. Its exact required fields should be copied from the current v2.0 quick start or OpenAPI reference; do not transplant a familiar v1.11 JSON body into a v2.0 request.

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  1. Confirm access and obtain a JWT. Verify the account is on the new Wowza Video UI and save the token securely.
  2. Create the live stream. Send a POST request to /live_streams with the precise v2.0 fields and values from the current quick start. Save the returned stream identifier and any source or playback details.
  3. Connect the WebRTC source. Follow the quick start’s source connection steps. A camera is the physical source; the API provisions and controls the software-side stream. A webcam is optional, not a required or certified model.
  4. Start through the API. Call PUT /live_streams/{id}/start, substituting the returned identifier. A successful start request may report starting, not a confirmed live broadcast.
  5. Check actual playback. Retrieve the stream state and use the Wowza-hosted player page to confirm video is playing. A successful HTTP response alone does not establish end-to-end delivery.
  6. Stop when finished. Use the documented stop operation for the stream and check the resulting state. The reference also lists reset operations; consult it for the correct lifecycle action for your use case.

Connect an RTMP encoder as a source

For an RTMP contribution workflow, the Wowza stream-source guide explains how to create a live stream or transcoder using a Wowza stream source. The service can detect where the broadcast comes from, start when the source begins, and stop after disconnection. This is useful when an operator starts the encoder independently while the API handles provisioning and status checks.

  1. Create the stream/source configuration. Follow the current source guide for the supported endpoint and request fields. Retrieve the returned source connection details rather than guessing them.
  2. Configure the encoder. Enter the returned server or URL, port, application, stream name or key, and any relevant credentials into the encoder. For OBS, the guide describes an RTMP URL formed from server, port, and application, plus the returned stream name/key. Other encoders may label those values differently.
  3. Start the encoder and inspect state. Check the Wowza live-stream state and, where applicable, detected broadcast location. Allow for startup to be asynchronous.
  4. Verify the picture. Retrieve the thumbnail URL and open it in a browser, then check the playback path. A request accepted by the API does not prove the source is sending usable video.
  5. Finish at the source. Stop the encoder/source when the broadcast ends and verify the stream’s resulting state.

The stream-source guide states that Wowza stream sources do not allow source authentication. Verify this limitation against the current product documentation and account configuration before relying on such a source in a security-sensitive workflow.

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Use the API for operational tasks

Automate event provisioning

An application can create a stream for an event, retain its returned identifier, start it when the event begins, check the transition state, and stop it at the end. Build the state check and playback verification into the workflow; do not mark an event live solely because the start call returned successfully.

Integrate an encoder workflow

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Choose a player or delivery configuration

The WebRTC quick start uses a Wowza-hosted player page. If your application needs other delivery arrangements, configure stream targets through the appropriate current API workflow. The choice between a hosted player and configured targets is a delivery decision; the API reference defines the supported resources and fields.

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Troubleshoot common failures

  • v2.0 endpoints are unavailable: The account may not have migrated to the new Wowza Video UI. Confirm migration and API eligibility before changing request syntax.
  • 401 or authorization errors: Check that the bearer token is present, valid, and associated with the intended account. If the token was not saved when created, create and securely store a replacement rather than exposing a token in logs.
  • Request rejected after copying an example: Confirm you used the v2.0 endpoint reference and its current required fields. Legacy v1.x schemas are not safe substitutes for v2.0.
  • Start call returns but no one can watch: A state such as starting is not proof of playback. Check the stream state, source connection, thumbnail, and player output.
  • RTMP source does not appear: Recheck the returned server/URL, port, application, stream name/key, and any applicable credentials in the encoder. Check source state and detected broadcast location when the workflow exposes it.
  • A GET result looks stale: Some GET endpoints may return cached responses. Consult the response-caching documentation when the workflow requires a fresh read.

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Wowza’s REST API is for programmatic live-stream provisioning and control; StreamNeo is a separate service for keeping a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos. To use StreamNeo, upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops the upload from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. It streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream, and the first day is free with no card. The monthly option is $9.99 per month. UPI and cards are accepted in India; cards are accepted worldwide. See StreamNeo, then start the free first day.

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