Should a video player show loading and error states?
Yes. Show a loading state while the video buffers and an error message if it fails to load. Do not leave a blank screen during buffering, which is a poor user experience.
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More FAQs in How to Build a Video Player Component in React
Use an iframe with the embed URL for YouTube videos, or a library like video.js or React Player for custom players. Create a VideoPlayer component that takes a video id or URL and renders the player, with responsive sizing via aspect ratio.
For YouTube videos, an iframe works. For custom players across browsers, video.js or React Player handle controls, streaming, and cross-browser issues. Use them rather than reinventing the wheel.
Use aspect ratio. Use CSS like aspect-video (Tailwind) or a padding-bottom trick to keep the video's ratio without fixed sizes, so the player scales correctly on all screens.
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