# AirPlay

> Apple's wireless protocol for sending audio and video between devices, and how a Mac uses it for system sound.

Updated 2026-10-06. Canonical page: https://lagless.app/glossary/airplay/

> AirPlay is Apple's protocol for streaming audio and video over a network. A Mac can send all system audio to an AirPlay speaker such as a HomePod; macOS schedules that audio 2000 ms ahead by default.

Related: [Why is AirPlay delayed on a Mac?](/guides/why-is-airplay-delayed-on-mac/) · [AirPlayXPCHelper](/glossary/airplayxpchelper/)