What indicates the beginning of an MPEG-2 Transport Stream (MPEG-2 TS) packet?

The beginning of an MPEG-2 Transport Stream (MPEG-2 TS) packet is indicated by the Sync Byte field. This field is crucial as it contains a specific value, which is 0x47, that allows receivers to identify the start of each packet. The presence of this Sync Byte is essential for the synchronization of the stream, enabling the proper parsing and processing of the packets that follow.

In MPEG-2 TS, the structure of each packet begins with this Sync Byte, ensuring that any stream can be properly aligned and interpreted by digital receivers. This alignment is critical for the correct sequencing and decoding of streaming data in real-time applications, such as broadcasting and streaming services. The consistent identification of the start of packets helps in maintaining a reliable data flow.