The technology essential for audio and video streaming services primarily involves content delivery networks (CDNs) and encoding methods. CDNs distribute content across geographically dispersed servers to ensure efficient data delivery and reduce latency, allowing users to access media seamlessly. Additionally, compression and encoding technologies are vital to optimize file sizes for faster streaming without sacrificing quality. These technologies work together to provide a reliable and smooth user experience for streaming platforms, supporting everything from video conferencing to entertainment services.