Understanding Video Conferencing Basics with Jitsi Meet

Video calls have become part of everyday work and connection. Whether you’re new to development, running a business, or an agency wanting to offer white-label video conferencing, knowing the basics is a must. Jitsi Meet is a flexible, open-source tool that helps you build custom video solutions without paying licensing fees or getting locked into vendors.

This article breaks down Jitsi Meet’s API, its interface, how to brand the platform, real examples of customization, and where to find helpful resources. It’s a beginner-friendly but still technical guide with practical info to help you set up and run video conferencing smoothly.

1. API Overview

Jitsi Meet’s API is where you customize and integrate. It lets developers embed video calls in websites or apps and control them as needed.

The External API is basically just a few lines of JavaScript that create a meeting session on your site or app. It hides the complex WebRTC and signaling stuff, offering a simple way to control meetings.

Understanding the API Structure

• Initialization: You provide the domain (like meet.jit.si or your own server), the room name, and options like user info and UI tweaks.
• Commands: You can mute/unmute audio or video, toggle screen sharing, or end calls.
• Events: The API lets your app react when participants join/leave, audio/video status changes, or chat messages come in.
• Configuration: Customize default language, which buttons show, size of the interface, and more by setting options at start.

Real-World Use Case

A small education startup used Jitsi Meet in their learning platform. They muted everyone as they joined, showed the teacher’s name clearly, and hid unnecessary buttons to keep things simple. This made sessions run smoother and helped students focus.

Why the API Matters

For developers new to video conferencing, this API means you don’t have to build real-time video tech from zero. It’s open-source, no vendor lock-in, and comes with powerful features plus community help.

2. UI Elements

A simple, clear interface is key for good video calls. Jitsi Meet’s UI balances power with ease of use.

Main UI Components

• Video Grid: Shows all participants’ thumbnails with the current speaker highlighted.
• Toolbar: Contains controls to mute/unmute, share screen, chat, see participants, adjust settings, and hang up.
• Chat Panel: For messaging alongside the video.
• Participants Pane: Lists all attendees and lets moderators manage them.
• Settings Dialog: Choose devices, bandwidth, and other preferences.
• Notifications: Small pop-ups that inform users of changes or alerts.

Secondary Keywords in UI

This intro to Jitsi Meet tutorial includes customizing these elements. You can hide or move buttons, layer your own UI pieces, or change labels to fit your tone or audience.

Practical Tips

• Agencies selling white-label tools can hide buttons like recording or invite links to avoid confusion.
• Business owners can use the participants list to control who talks during meetings, useful for keeping virtual boardrooms orderly.
• Developers can hook event listeners to UI parts to build workflows like attendance logs or calendar links.

3. Branding Options

Branding helps make the video tool feel part of your company or client’s identity.

Customizable Branding Features

• Logo and Name: Swap out Jitsi’s logos on headers and lobby screens with yours.
• Color Themes: Change main and accent colors to match your palette.
• Custom Backgrounds: Use branded backgrounds in lobbies and calls.
• Watermarks: Add your watermark on videos or shared presentations.
• Localized Text: Tailor UI text for your brand voice or other languages.

Implementation Strategy

You typically handle branding by sending config options to the API or by self-hosting Jitsi Meet and tweaking the UI code when you want more control.

Case Study: Agency Reselling White-label Solutions

One agency integrated Jitsi Meet into a client intranet, matching their colors and logos. They also removed default meeting titles, added client-specific labels, and localized the UI. It made the tool feel fully part of the client’s platform.

4. Example Customizations

Here are some ways to tweak Jitsi Meet for different needs.

Example 1: Auto-Muting Participants on Entry

const domain = 'meet.jit.si';
const options = {
  roomName: 'team-meeting',
  configOverwrite: {
    startWithAudioMuted: true,
    startWithVideoMuted: true
  },
  interfaceConfigOverwrite: {
    TOOLBAR_BUTTONS: ['microphone', 'camera', 'chat', 'hangup']
  }
};
const api = new JitsiMeetExternalAPI(domain, options);

This cuts down noise when lots of people join — handy for company meetings or webinars.

Example 2: Custom Welcome Screen with Company Logo

If you host Jitsi yourself, you can replace the welcome screen background and logo by editing React components in the source code.

Example 3: Integrating with CRM or Booking Systems

You can catch join/leave events and send them to CRM tools for attendance tracking or follow-ups.

api.addEventListener('participantJoined', (event) => {
  console.log(`${event.name} joined`);
  // Add your code here to sync with CRM
});

Example 4: Removing Unwanted UI Buttons

For users who don’t need all features, simpler UI helps.

interfaceConfigOverwrite: {
  TOOLBAR_BUTTONS: ['microphone', 'camera', 'hangup']
}

Example 5: Language Customization

You can add your own translations to support different languages or teams.

5. Resources

If you want to dig deeper, check out these:

• Official Jitsi Documentation: https://jitsi.github.io/handbook/docs/dev-guide/dev-guide-iframe
• Jitsi Meet GitHub Repository: https://github.com/jitsi/jitsi-meet
• Community Forums: https://community.jitsi.org/
• Video Tutorials: Search YouTube for “intro to jitsi meet tutorial” by developers and educators.
• Self-hosting Guide: Step-by-step on running your own server for more control and privacy.
• Security Best Practices: Learn about Jitsi’s encryption and compliance.

Many businesses like Jitsi because it’s open-source—transparent about how data is handled, which builds trust.

Conclusion

Knowing video conferencing basics helps you get the most out of Jitsi Meet. Its flexible API, easy-to-use interface, and branding options make it a solid choice for developers new to video, business owners who want control, and agencies offering white-label solutions.

Once you get comfortable with the API and UI, plus some branding and tweaks, you can build video calls that feel smooth and professional.

Ready to start? Try the simple API embeds, play with configs, and customize the UI to suit your needs. Whether you want to add meetings to your app or build branded video tools for clients, Jitsi gives you freedom to do it.

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Call to Action: Check out the official Jitsi Meet API and docs. Start with a basic embed, experiment with settings, and join the Jitsi community for tips and support. If you need expert help, consider hiring video conferencing pros who can help you grow with confidence.