push-pull

Normally a source element will push data to the downstream element using the gst_pad_push() method. The downstream peer pad will receive the buffer in the Chain function. In the push mode, the source element is the driving force in the pipeline as it initiates data transport.

It is also possible for an element to pull data from an upstream element. The downstream element does this by calling gst_pad_pull_range() on one of its sinkpads. In this mode, the downstream element is the driving force in the pipeline as it initiates data transfer.

It is important that the elements are in the correct state to handle a push() or a pull_range() from the peer element. For push() based elements this means that all downstream elements should be in the correct state and for pull_range() based elements this means the upstream elements should be in the correct state.

Most sinkpads implement a chain function. This is the most common case. sinkpads implementing a loop function will be the exception. Likewise, srcpads implementing a getrange function will be the exception.

State changes

The GstBin sets the state of all the sink elements. These are the elements without source pads.

Setting the state on an element will first activate all the srcpads and then the sinkpads. For each of the sinkpads, gst_pad_check_pull_range() is performed. If the sinkpad supports a loopfunction and the peer pad returns TRUE from the GstPadCheckPullRange function, then the peer pad is activated first as it must be in the right state to handle a _pull_range(). Note that the state change of the element is not yet performed, just the activate function is called on the source pad. This means that elements that implement a getrange function must be prepared to get their activate function called before their state change function.

Elements that have multiple sinkpads that require all of them to operate in the same mode (push/pull) can use the _check_pull_range() on all their pads and can then remove the loop functions if one of the pads does not support pull based mode.