MEDIA-PLAYER INITIALIZATION OPTIMIZATION

This disclosure describes, in part, client-side techniques for reducing latency time experienced in requesting playback of media content using media players. In some examples, the techniques described herein include executing or calling one more functions to create and maintain a group, or “pool,” of media player instances which are in a prepared (i.e., ready) state. In this way, rather than beginning the process of instantiating a media player instance upon receiving a playback request or command for media content, the media player instance of the media content for which playback is requested is already in the prepared state and able to transition into a playing state more quickly, which reduces latency time.