IPTV Education · · 3 min read
IPTV Terminology for Beginners: Portal, Line & Credentials Explained
A few pieces of IPTV jargon get used all the time but rarely explained.
"Line"
Informal shorthand for your subscription connection. "My line stopped working" means "my account's stream isn't working." It's just another word for your subscription.
"Portal"
The server your device connects to. In practice it's another name for your server URL. See portal login explained for the full breakdown of what this field does.
"Credentials"
Your username and password, which together with your server URL log you in to your account.
"MAC"
Short for MAC address, a device identifier used to activate Smart TV apps like Smart IPTV instead of a username and password. See how MAC-based activation works.
For more terms, see our full IPTV glossary.
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