NDI stands for Network Device Interface, which is a software specification developed by NewTek that enables high-definition video to be delivered, received, and communicated over a computer network in a low-latency, high-quality manner. It is a network protocol that enables audio, video, and metadata signals to be sent over standard networks in real-time. NDI is designed to run over gigabit Ethernet with the NDI codec and is expected to deliver 1080i HD video at VBR data rates typically around 100 Mbit/s.

NDI is more than just a transport. It allows for control of devices like PTZ cameras, capturing video feeds directly from the network to use in editing, and defines a standard for encoding and decoding. NDI is friendly to software applications, delivering high-quality video. While all NDI is compressed, there is also a high-efficiency option called NDI|HX that includes an easy way for devices to find each other on a network.

NDI is designed to function on conventional IP networks with little or no need for specific configuration. This is because NDI-enabled devices function just like any other networked device. NDI allows multiple video systems to identify and communicate with one another over IP and to encode, transmit, and receive many streams of high-quality, low latency, frame-accurate video and audio in real-time.

In summary, NDI is a network protocol that enables high-quality video to be delivered, received, and communicated over a computer network in a low-latency, high-quality manner. It is designed to run over gigabit Ethernet with the NDI codec and is friendly to software applications, delivering high-quality video. NDI is more than just a transport and allows for control of devices like PTZ cameras, capturing video feeds directly from the network to use in editing, and defines a standard for encoding and decoding. NDI is designed to function on conventional IP networks with little or no need for specific configuration.