# Loading and playing content

Pass a source configuration object to `player.load()` to load content into an initialised player. You can then control playback or destroy the player instance when it is no longer needed.

## Prerequisites

You have an initialised `MKPlayer` instance. See [Installation and setup](/mkio/reference/player-sdk/setup).

## Load a source

Build a `MKSourceConfig` object that describes your content, then call `player.load()`:

```javascript
const sourceConfig = {
  title: "My Stream",
  description: "A brief description of the content",
  poster: "https://my-cdn.com/mysource/poster.png",
  hls: "https://my-cdn.com/mysource/hls/index.m3u8",
  dash: "https://my-cdn.com/mysource/dash/manifest.mpd"
};

player.load(sourceConfig)
  .then(() => {
    console.log("Source loaded successfully");
  })
  .catch((error) => {
    console.error("Source load failed: ", error);
  });
```

Pass only one stream type in the source configuration: either `hls` or `dash`. When both are present, the player selects based on platform support.

For DRM-protected content, you also need to pass a `drm` property. See [DRM protection](/mkio/reference/player-sdk/drm).

## Source configuration options

| Property           | Type                | Description                                                                                    |
| ------------------ | ------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `title`            | `string`            | Display title for the source.                                                                  |
| `description`      | `string`            | Brief description of the source.                                                               |
| `poster`           | `string`            | URL to a poster image shown before playback starts.                                            |
| `hls`              | `string`            | URL to an HLS master playlist.                                                                 |
| `dash`             | `string`            | URL to a DASH manifest.                                                                        |
| `drm`              | `MKDrmConfig`       | DRM configuration for protected content. See [DRM protection](/mkio/reference/player-sdk/drm). |
| `subtitleTracks`   | `MKSubtitleTrack[]` | External subtitle tracks to register with the player.                                          |
| `enableLowLatency` | `boolean`           | Enables low-latency mode for live streams.                                                     |
| `assetType`        | `MKAssetType`       | Required for registered sources. Values: `live`, `event`, `catchup`, `dvr`, `vod`.             |

## Control playback

After a source is loaded, use the player API to control playback:

```javascript
// Start or resume playback
player.play();

// Pause
player.pause();

// Seek to a position (seconds)
player.seek(30);

// Set volume (0–100)
player.setVolume(80);

// Mute and unmute
player.mute();
player.unmute();

// Set playback speed (HTML5 player only)
// Values between 0 and 1 are slow motion; values above 1 are fast forward
player.setPlaybackSpeed(1.5);
```

## Unload a source

To stop playback and clear the current source without destroying the player instance:

```javascript
player.unload()
  .then(() => {
    console.log("Source unloaded");
  })
  .catch((error) => {
    console.error("Unload failed: ", error);
  });
```

You can call `player.load()` again after `unload()` to play a different source.

## Destroy the player

To tear down the player entirely and release all held resources:

```javascript
player.destroy();
```

You must create a new `MKPlayer` instance after calling `destroy()`. Calling a player API method after `destroy()` returns a `PLAYER_API_NOT_AVAILABLE` error.

It is recommended to wait for the `Destroy` event before discarding your player reference:

```javascript
player.on(mkplayer.MKPlayerEvent.Destroy, () => {
  console.log("Player destroyed and resources released");
  player = null;
});

player.destroy();
```