What is RTSP Stream?
RTSP, the Real Time Streaming Protocol, is the standard way IP cameras and NVRs share live video with other software. Every IP camera exposes an RTSP URL — typically rtsp://username:password@camera-ip:554/path — and any compatible player, recorder or AI system can connect to that address and receive the live feed, independent of the camera manufacturer's own app.
RTSP matters because it frees your footage from vendor lock-in: a Hikvision camera, a CP Plus NVR and an open-source recorder can all interoperate through it. For AI analysis, RTSP is the input pipe — analytics software subscribes to each camera's stream and processes frames in real time. The practical caveats: RTSP travels your local network unencrypted by default, and exposing port 554 directly to the internet invites attacks.