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The current API is documented as the Wowza Video 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. See the Wowza Video REST API overview and the v2.0 Live Streams reference for current eligibility and endpoint details.
This guide shows the API request pattern, a version-safe WebRTC workflow, how an RTMP encoder fits in, and how to verify that a stream is actually playing. Use the current v2.0 endpoint reference for request fields rather than copying an older v1.x payload.
Check that your account can use v2.0
Wowza’s documentation identifies v2.0 as current and v1.x as legacy. The current Live Streams reference says v2.0 is unavailable to customers who have not moved to the new Wowza Video UI. Confirm your account’s UI and API access before building an integration; if you still use the older interface, do not assume that a v1.x example will work unchanged with v2.0. Review the API overview and current Live Streams reference for version and lifecycle information.
Understand the request pattern
The API uses HTTP requests and JSON. The documented base URL pattern is https://api.video.wowza.com/api/[version]/; for v2.0, use https://api.video.wowza.com/api/v2.0. Authenticate every request with a JWT in the Authorization header. Include Content-Type: application/json on POST and PATCH requests.
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| Method | Typical purpose in the API |
|---|---|
POST |
Create a resource or record. |
GET |
Retrieve a resource or its details. |
PATCH |
Update selected attributes. |
PUT |
Start or stop an action or entity. |
DELETE |
Remove a resource. |
Some GET endpoints may return cached responses. If a fresh state matters to your workflow, consult Wowza’s response-caching documentation and verify the returned value against actual playback.
Store the JWT outside your source code
For local shell work, keep the token in an environment variable rather than embedding it in a script:
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export WV_JWT='your-token-value'Use it as a bearer token in requests, for example Authorization: Bearer $WV_JWT. Protect the variable, shell history, CI secrets, and logs; never commit a real token or paste it into a public issue. Wowza’s quick start describes personal tokens for user-linked testing and system tokens, available to organization owners, for production integrations that should persist independently of one individual. The token is shown only once when created in the UI, so store it securely at creation.
Create and control a WebRTC live stream
Wowza’s v2.0 quick start documents an end-to-end WebRTC flow: create a live stream, connect a source, use a Wowza-hosted player page, then start and stop the stream through API calls. A camera or compatible source device supplies the video; the REST API provisions and controls software resources, but is not itself a camera. A webcam is one possible source, not a required or universally certified device.
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- Prepare a Wowza Video account and JWT. Confirm v2.0 access and create the appropriate personal or system token for your workflow.
- Create the live-stream resource. Send
POST /live_streamsto the v2.0 base URL with the WebRTC fields required by the current WebRTC quick start and Live Streams reference. The exact required body depends on the current endpoint schema; do not substitute a v1.11 example body without checking it against v2.0. - Read the creation response. Record the returned resource identifier and inspect the response for the connection details and player information relevant to the chosen source workflow.
- Connect the WebRTC source. Follow the current quick start’s instructions for joining the source to the created stream. Use the Wowza-hosted player page documented for the workflow to check the viewing path.
- Start the stream. Call
PUT /live_streams/{id}/start, replacing{id}with the returned identifier. A successful start request may return a state such asstarting; it does not prove that viewers can already see video. - Check state and playback. Retrieve the stream details or state, then confirm playback using the documented player or thumbnail check rather than treating an HTTP success status as an end-to-end test.
- Stop when finished. Use the documented stop operation for the resource and verify its resulting state. The current reference also lists reset operations; use them only where their documented purpose matches your recovery workflow.
For exact endpoint fields and current response shapes, use the linked v2.0 quick start and reference rather than an undated copied request body.
Use an RTMP encoder such as OBS as the source
For an RTMP workflow, create a live stream or transcoder using a Wowza stream source. The source guide describes a setup in which Wowza detects the broadcast location, can start when the source begins, and can stop after it disconnects. The API returns connection information that the operator enters into the encoder. See Wowza’s stream-source and encoder guide for the applicable current instructions.
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- Create the source-backed resource. Follow the stream-source guide to create the live stream or transcoder and obtain its source connection data.
- Copy the returned connection values carefully. Depending on the response and setup, these include the server or URL, port, application, stream name or key, and any relevant credentials. Treat the connection details as sensitive.
- Configure the encoder. In OBS or another RTMP encoder, enter the server URL assembled from the returned server, port, and application as directed by Wowza’s guide, then enter the returned stream name/key in the encoder’s stream-key field. OBS is only an example; other encoders may use different labels, so follow that encoder’s documentation.
- Start sending video from the encoder. Observe the resource state and source connection to confirm Wowza detects the incoming broadcast.
- Verify the result. Check the live-stream state, retrieve and open the thumbnail URL where available, and confirm playback. Where the guide exposes a detected broadcast location, inspect it as another source check.
- Stop at the source when done. Stop the encoder’s broadcast and verify that the source disconnect and stream state match the expected behavior.
The source guide notes that Wowza stream sources do not allow source authentication. Treat that as a security limitation when choosing this workflow: restrict access to the returned connection information and verify the current guide’s applicable behavior before deploying it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose the resource and source workflow that fits
| Choice | What it means | Good fit |
|---|---|---|
/live_streams workflow |
A higher-level live-stream setup can wrap configuration for a transcoder, renditions, stream targets, and an associated player. | Provisioning and controlling a broadcast through one live-stream resource. |
Explicit /transcoders workflow |
A lower-level setup gives more direct control over transcoder configuration. | Integrations that need to configure transcoder details explicitly. |
| WebRTC source | The v2.0 quick start’s source path, paired with the documented Wowza-hosted player flow. | Applications that provision a WebRTC broadcast as part of an event or operational workflow. |
| RTMP encoder source | An external encoder sends video to the Wowza stream source using returned connection information. | Operators already producing a broadcast in OBS or another RTMP-capable encoder. |
These are workflow choices, not a claim that one source or resource type is universally better. Likewise, the hosted player flow and configured stream targets serve different delivery needs; consult the current reference for how to configure the targets your application requires.
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Use the REST client that suits your workflow
Wowza provides cURL examples, and its quick-start workflow can also be followed with Postman or another REST client. cURL is convenient for repeatable scripts and CI tasks; a GUI client can make it easier to inspect request headers, JSON bodies, and responses while learning. In either case, use the same v2.0 base URL, bearer authentication, and JSON headers, and source request fields from the current endpoint reference.
Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely issue | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Requests cannot reach the v2.0 endpoint or the account cannot use the documented workflow. | The account may not have migrated to the new Wowza Video UI, or the integration may be using the wrong API version. | Confirm account eligibility and the current version in the API overview and Live Streams reference. |
| Authentication fails. | The JWT may be missing, invalid, expired, or sent in the wrong header format. | Send Authorization: Bearer [JWT] on every request and verify that the token is available to the shell or client without exposing it in logs. |
| A create request is rejected. | The JSON body may not match the current v2.0 schema, or a required JSON header may be absent. | Check Content-Type: application/json and compare the submitted fields with the current endpoint reference. Do not assume an older v1.x body is compatible. |
| The start request succeeds but no video appears. | The stream may still be starting, the source may not be connected, or the encoder may have incorrect connection values. | Poll or retrieve the stream state, verify the source connection and encoder fields, and check the documented player or thumbnail instead of relying on the initial HTTP response. |
| The RTMP source does not connect. | The encoder may have a malformed URL, wrong port/application, or incorrect stream name/key. | Compare each encoder field with the connection details returned by Wowza and consult the encoder’s instructions for its field labels. |
| A GET response appears stale. | The endpoint may return a cached response. | Check Wowza’s response-caching documentation and corroborate a state change with playback or the applicable source status. |
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