In today’s digital age, video chat has become a popular way to stay connected with friends, family, and colleagues. But what if you could meet and chat with strangers worldwide at the click of a button? In this guide, we’ll explore the steps you must take, from selecting the right technology and video chat APIs to designing a random video chat app.
Why the Random Video Chat App Is so Popular
The random video chat app has exploded in popularity in recent years, and there are several reasons for its widespread appeal. Here are three key factors that have contributed to their success:
1. Novelty and Excitement
Random video chat apps offer a sense of novelty and excitement that is hard to replicate with other forms of communication. Users are never quite sure who they’ll be matched with following, which can lead to unexpected conversations and connections. For some, it’s a chance to break out of their social circle and connect with new people. For others, it’s an opportunity to explore different perspectives and gain new insights.
2. Convenience and Accessibility
Random video chat apps are incredibly convenient and accessible, making it easy for users to connect with people from anywhere in the world. Users can log on from the comfort of their homes without worrying about transportation or other logistical issues. Plus, video chat allows for a more immersive and engaging experience than text-based or phone calls.
3. Social Connection
The most important factor driving the popularity of random video chat apps is the need for social connection. In a world where people are increasingly isolated and disconnected, these apps offer a way to connect with others and form new relationships. They can be treasured by people who are shy, introverted, or living in a new city where they don’t know many people.
3 Free Random Video Chat Apps
In the internet age, making new connections and meeting new people has never been easier. One way to do this is through online random video chat apps that allow users to interact with others from anywhere in the world. These live random video chat platforms have become increasingly popular in recent years, and several free options are available that are both fun and easy to use. Here are three of the best:
1. Omegle
Omegle is one of the most popular random video chat apps on the web. It connects users with strangers worldwide and allows them to chat in a live video chat format. Users can remain anonymous or disclose their identity, making meeting new people easy and forming connections. With a simple interface and no registration required, it’s a quick and easy way to jump into the world of random video chat.
2. Chatroulette
Chatroulette is another popular option for online random video chat. Like Omegle, it connects users with random strangers for live video chat sessions. However, Chatroulette has added features like filters, text chat, and even the ability to play games with your chat partner. This platform is excellent for those who want to connect with new people while having fun.
3. Camsurf
Camsurf is a highly secure and free-to-use live random video chat app that lets you connect with people worldwide. The app utilizes cutting-edge artificial intelligence to monitor user behavior and ensure a safe and fun experience for all users. Camsurf also includes innovative features like text chat, filters, and the ability to report inappropriate behavior, providing a seamless, user-friendly experience.
Suppose you’re looking for a random video chat app that emphasizes user safety. In that case, Camsurf is an excellent choice that lets you focus on making new connections without worrying about potential security risks.
You may also like: 10 Best Talk with Strangers Apps
How to Develop Random Video Chat App with ZEGOCLOUD
Random video chat apps are more popular than ever, providing a fun and easy way for users to connect with others worldwide. If you want to develop your own video chat app, ZEGOCLOUD provides a powerful Video Call API/SDK to help you get started.
ZEGOCLOUD Video Call API is a cloud-based video communication platform allowing developers to build and embed real-time video chat features in their apps. Here are some of the critical features that ZEGOCLOUD Video Call API provides:
1. High-quality video and audio
One of the most important aspects of any video chat app is the video and audio quality. It provides high-quality video and audio communication, ensuring clear and smooth conversations. This feature is essential for engaging and productive communication, especially for businesses and organizations that rely on video communication for collaboration and meetings.
2. Screen sharing
Screen sharing is essential for collaboration and knowledge sharing, allowing users to share their screens with others during a video call. It allows users to easily share their screens, making it ideal for online presentations, remote work, and other applications that require visual aids.
3. End-to-end encryption
Ensuring the privacy and security of users’ data is essential in today’s digital landscape. With the rise of cyber threats and hacking incidents, data security has become a significant concern for users of video chat apps. It provides a crucial solution by offering end-to-end encryption, ensuring all conversations remain secure and private.
4. Customizable user interface
It offers a customizable user interface tailored to match the existing app or website, resulting in a seamless and integrated user experience. By providing a customized look and feel, ZEGOCLOUD’s Video Call API ensures that the video chat app seamlessly fits within the overall design of the platform, thereby enhancing the overall user experience.
Preparation
- A ZEGOCLOUD developer account – Sign up
- A computer with internet connectivity and a web browser
- Get appID and app sign from the admin console
- Basic understanding of web development
How to Implement a Basic Random Video Call
To begin developing a basic random video chat app, follow these helpful steps:
1. Integrate the SDK
Incorporating the ZEGOCLOUD SDK into your project is a breeze. Simply run the commands provided below in your project directory. Note that this particular code is for web applications; for other platform-specific samples, refer to the Video Call SDK documentation for further guidance.
npm i zego-express-engine-webrtcYou can then import the SDK into your javascript codes using the codes below:
var ZegoExpressEngine = require('zego-express-engine-webrtc').ZegoExpressEngine2. Create the UI
The first step in creating your video call application is designing the user interface. The interface should include a call button and a real-time video display window for the caller and the receiver. Below is a sample code for a web application, but you can adapt the same steps for any of the supported technology stacks, depending on your preferences.
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>Zego Express Video Call</title>
<style type="text/css">
* {
font-family: sans-serif;
}
h1,
h4 {
text-align: center;
}
#local-video, #remote-video {
width: 400px;
height: 300px;
border: 1px solid #dfdfdf;
}
#local-video {
position: relative;
margin: 0 auto;
display: block;
}
#remote-video {
display: flex;
margin: auto;
position: relative !important;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1>
Zego RTC Video Call
</h1>
<h4>Local video</h4>
<div id="local-video"></div>
<h4>Remote video</h4>
<div id="remote-video"></div>
<script>
// Copy and paste the JavaScript sample code in the following part of this topic here.
// const zg = new ZegoExpressEngine(appID, server);
</script>
</body>
</html>3. Generate a new ZegoExpressEngine object.
Instantiate and set up a ZegoExpressEngine object by specifying your project’s AppID and access server address as values for the appID and server parameters during initialization.
// The AppID is a unique identifier for a Zego project and is represented as a Number data type. You can obtain it from the ZEGOCLOUD Admin Console.
let appID = ;
// The access server address is represented as a String data type and can be obtained from the ZEGOCLOUD Admin Console as well.
let server = "";
// Instance initialization
const zg = new ZegoExpressEngine(appID, server);4. Log into a room
To join a room, invoke the loginRoom method and provide values for the roomID, token, user, and config parameters. If the specified room does not exist, calling this method will automatically create a new room and log you in.
Note, Authentication is necessary to log in to a room, requiring a Token. You can obtain a temporary Token that remains valid for 24 hours by applying for one in the ZEGOCLOUD Admin Console. This temporary Token should be used only for debugging purposes. To use your application commercially, generate a Token from your service server. For more information on using Tokens for authentication, refer to the relevant documentation.
// Log in to a room. If the login succeeds, `true` is returned.
// The `roomUserUpdate` callback can be received only when `userUpdate` is set to `true`.
let userID = Util.getBrow() + '_' + new Date().getTime();
let userName = "user0001";
let roomID = "0001";
let token = ;
// To prevent yourself from missing any notification, listen for callback events such as user login or logout, room connection status updates, and stream publishing status updates before logging in to a room.
zg.on('roomStateChanged', async (roomID, reason, errorCode, extendedData) => {
})
zg.loginRoom(roomID, token, { userID, userName: userID }, { userUpdate: true }).then(result => {
if (result == true) {
console.log("login success")
}
});5. Initiate local video preview and publish streams to ZEGOCLOUD audio and video cloud.
To start streaming audio and video:
- Create a local audio and video stream using the
createStreammethod, which captures data from the camera and microphone by default. - Use the
createLocalStreamViewmethod to create a media player for the stream, or assign the media stream object to the video element’ssrcObjectattribute. - Publish the stream to ZEGOCLOUD audio and video cloud using the
startPublishingStreammethod, setting thestreamIDandlocalStreamparameters. The localStream parameter should reference the media stream object obtained during stream creation.
// The sample code publishes streams as soon as a successful room login is achieved. When developing your own service, you have the flexibility to publish streams at any point while the room is in a connected state.
zg.loginRoom(roomID, token, { userID, userName: userID }, { userUpdate: true }).then(async result => {
if (result == true) {
console.log("login success")
// Create a stream and start the preview.
// After calling the `createStream` method, you cannot perform subsequent operations until the ZEGOCLOUD server returns a streaming media object.
const localStream = await zg.createStream();
// Create a media stream player object to preview local streams.
const localView = zg.createLocalStreamView(localStream);
// Mount the player to a page. In the sample code, `local-video` indicates the DOM element ID of the player.
localView.play("local-video");
// Start to publish an audio and video stream to the ZEGOCLOUD audio and video cloud.
let streamID = new Date().getTime().toString();
zg.startPublishingStream(streamID, localStream)
}
});6. Playing published streams
To play audio and video streams from other users during a video call:
- The SDK triggers the
roomStreamUpdatecallback when a user joins the room, providing thestreamIDof the new user. - Call the
startPlayingStreammethod, passing in thestreamID, to play the remote user’s audio and video stream published to the ZEGOCLOUD server.
// Stream status update callback
zg.on('roomStreamUpdate', async (roomID, updateType, streamList, extendedData) => {
// When `updateType` is set to `ADD`, an audio and video stream is added, and you can call the `startPlayingStream` method to play the stream.
if (updateType == 'ADD') {
// When streams are added, play them.
// For the conciseness of the sample code, only the first stream in the list of newly added audio and video streams is played here. In a real service, it is recommended that you traverse the stream list to play each stream.
const streamID = streamList[0].streamID;
// The stream list specified by `streamList` contains the ID of the corresponding stream.
const remoteStream = await zg.startPlayingStream(streamID);
// Create a media stream player object to play remote media streams.
const remoteView = zg.createRemoteStreamView(remoteStream);
// Mount the player to a page. In the sample code, `remote-video` indicates the DOM element ID of the player.
remoteView.play("remote-video");
} else if (updateType == 'DELETE') {
// When streams are deleted, stop playing them.
}
});7. Stop a video call
Cease and terminate stream publication.
To cease publishing local audio and video streams, use the stopPublishingStream method. To eliminate created stream data, use the destroyStream method. Once the stream data is destroyed, ensure to stop capturing video data by destroying the video.
// Stop publishing a stream based on the local `streamID`.
zg.stopPublishingStream(streamID)
// The `localStream` parameter indicates the `MediaStream` object obtained when the `createStream` method is called.
zg.destroyStream(localStream)Stop playing streams
To halt playback of audio and video streams being transmitted by remote users, utilize the stopPlayingStream method.
// Stream status update callback
zg.on('roomStreamUpdate', async (roomID, updateType, streamList, extendedData) => {
if (updateType == 'ADD') {
// When streams are added, play them.
} else if (updateType == 'DELETE') {
// When streams are deleted, stop playing them based on `streamID` of the streams in the stream deletion list specified by `streamList`.
const streamID = streamList[0].streamID;
zg.stopPlayingStream(streamID)
}
});8. Log out of a room
To exit a room, employ the logoutRoom method.
zg.logoutRoom(roomID)Run a Demo
To explore creating random video call applications using ZEGOCLOUD Video Call SDK, take a look at the sample demo.
Conclusion
Building a random video chat app requires technical skills and creativity. With the increasing demand for remote communication, this app has great potential to become a viral sensation if developed with a user-centric approach. The possibilities are endless, from designing an intuitive user interface to integrating robust video calling and real-time messaging functionalities.
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