Bitrate is the amount of video data transmitted or processed per unit of time, typically measured in kilobits per second (Kbps) or megabits per second (Mbps). It is one of the most important factors in determining live stream quality. Higher bitrates carry more data per second, preserving more detail and color accuracy, but require more bandwidth. Lower bitrates reduce data consumption but can introduce visual artifacts, blurriness, or pixelation, particularly in fast-moving scenes.