A <emphasis>filter</emphasis> is an important type of element that
processes a stream of data. Producers and consumers of data are called
<emphasis>source</emphasis> and <emphasis>sink</emphasis> elements,
- respectively. Elements that link other elements together are called
- <emphasis>autoplugger</emphasis> elements, and a <emphasis>bin</emphasis>
- element contains other elements. Bins are often responsible for scheduling
- the elements that they contain so that data flows smoothly.
+ respectively. <emphasis>Bin</emphasis> elements contain other elements.
+ One type of bin is responsible for scheduling the elements that they
+ contain so that data flows smoothly. Another type of bin, called
+ <emphasis>autoplugger</emphasis> elements, automatically add other
+ elements to the bin and link them together so that they act as a
+ filter between two arbitary stream types.
</para>
<para>
The plugin mechanism is used everywhere in &GStreamer;, even if only the
- standard package is being used. A few very basic functions reside in the
+ standard packages are being used. A few very basic functions reside in the
core library, and all others are implemented in plugins. A plugin registry
is used to store the details of the plugins in an XML file. This way, a
program using &GStreamer; does not have to load all plugins to determine
<emphasis>Pads</emphasis> are used to negotiate links and data flow
between elements in &GStreamer;. A pad can be viewed as a
<quote>place</quote> or <quote>port</quote> on an element where
- links may be made with other elements. Pads have specific data
- handling capabilities: A pad only knows how to give or receive certain
- types of data. Links are only allowed when the capabilities of two
- pads are compatible.
+ links may be made with other elements, and through which data can
+ flow to or from those elements. Pads have specific data handling
+ capabilities: A pad can restrict the type of data that flows
+ through it. Links are only allowed between two pads when the
+ allowed data types of the two pads are compatible.
</para>
<para>
An analogy may be helpful here. A pad is similar to a plug or jack on a
same purpose as the jacks in the home theater system.
</para>
<para>
- For the moment, all data in &GStreamer; flows one way through a link
+ For the most part, all data in &GStreamer; flows one way through a link
between elements. Data flows out of one element through one or more
<emphasis>source pads</emphasis>, and elements accept incoming data through
one or more <emphasis>sink pads</emphasis>. Source and sink elements have