Glossary

Plain-language definitions of the terms you’ll come across in Zuno and these docs.

Terms

Adaptive Streaming A Playback Mode where Zuno starts on the original file and drops to a lower quality stream from your server if your connection can’t keep up, then climbs back when it recovers. See Streaming & Quality.

Bitrate How much data a video uses per second, usually in Mbps. Higher bitrate generally means better quality but needs a faster connection.

Codec The method used to compress video or audio, such as H.264, HEVC, AAC, or FLAC. A file’s container can hold streams in different codecs.

Collection A set of titles grouped together on your media server, such as a film series. Browse them from Collections in the Libraries tab. See Browsing & Search.

Container The file format that wraps the video, audio, and subtitle streams together, such as MKV or MP4. The container is separate from the codecs inside it.

Direct Play Playing a file exactly as it is, with no conversion by your server. This gives the best quality and is what Zuno does by default. See Streaming & Quality.

Discover Zuno’s browsing feed of trending and recommended titles. It can be built from curated content or limited to your own library. See Browsing & Search.

Dolby Atmos An immersive, object-based audio format that places sounds around and above you. Requires a compatible TV or receiver.

Dolby Vision An advanced HDR format with scene-by-scene tone mapping for the best picture on a compatible display. See Advanced Formats.

Emby Connect Emby’s free online account (on emby.media) that can be linked to your user on an Emby server. Zuno can use it to find your servers and sign you in without your server’s address. See Connecting to Emby.

HDR (High Dynamic Range) Video with brighter highlights, deeper shadows, and richer colour than standard (SDR) content, on a compatible display. Common types are HDR10 and HDR10+.

Library A section of your media server, such as Movies or TV Shows. Zuno brings your libraries together into views in the Libraries tab and shows them as home rows.

Media server The software that stores and serves your library. Zuno works with Plex, Jellyfin, and Emby. Zuno itself hosts no content.

Network share (SMB) A folder shared from a computer or NAS on your network that Zuno can browse and play from. See Network Shares.

Quick Connect A way to sign in to Jellyfin by approving a code from a device that’s already signed in, instead of typing a password.

SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) Ordinary, non-HDR video. Everything that isn’t an HDR title.

Spatial Audio Immersive, object-based sound (such as Dolby Atmos). Requires compatible hardware.

Subtitle sync offset An adjustment that shifts subtitles earlier or later so they line up with the audio. Set it from the Subtitles menu during playback. See Subtitles.

Transcoding Your server re-encoding a file into a different format or lower quality before sending it. It helps on weak connections but reduces quality and drops Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. See Streaming & Quality.

View One screen of the Libraries tab, such as Movies, TV Shows or Collections. A view can bring together libraries from several servers, and you can pin any view to the tab bar. See Browsing & Search.

Watchlist Your personal list of titles to watch later, which syncs across your devices and with a connected Trakt or Plex account. See Browsing & Search.

Zuno Connect Where Zuno links up with follows, alerts, requests and Watch Sync. See Zuno Connect.

Zuno Pro The optional subscription that unlocks downloads, integrations, discovery, Zuno Live, and more. See Zuno Pro.