> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://assemblyai.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Streaming Endpoints and Data Zones

Choose the endpoint that best fits your application's requirements—whether that's achieving the lowest possible latency or ensuring your audio data stays within a specific geographic region.

## Edge Routing

The default endpoint (`streaming.assemblyai.com`) automatically routes requests to the nearest available region, minimizing latency for real-time transcription. With infrastructure in Oregon, Virginia, and Ireland, this endpoint delivers best-in-class streaming performance regardless of where your users are located.

## Data Zone Routing

Data Zone endpoints guarantee your data never leaves the specified region. This is designed for organizations with strict data residency and governance requirements—your audio and transcription data will remain entirely within the US or EU, respectively.

## Endpoints

| Endpoint               | WebSocket URL                             | Description                    |
| ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------------ |
| Edge Routing (default) | `wss://streaming.assemblyai.com/v3/ws`    | Lowest latency, nearest region |
| US data residency      | `wss://streaming.us.assemblyai.com/v3/ws` | Data stays in the US           |
| EU data residency      | `wss://streaming.eu.assemblyai.com/v3/ws` | Data stays in the EU           |

## Which endpoint should I use?

* **Optimizing for latency?** Use **Edge Routing** (default). No configuration change is needed — it automatically routes to the nearest region for the fastest response.
* **Need data residency?** Use a **Data Zone** endpoint. Choose US or EU to ensure your audio and transcription data stays within that region.

## How to use it

Update your WebSocket connection URL to your preferred endpoint. Select an endpoint tab below to see examples for each.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Edge Routing (default)">
    Edge Routing is the default. If you're using the SDKs without overriding the base URL, you're already using this endpoint. No configuration change is required.

    <CodeGroup>
      ```python title="Python SDK"  expandable theme={null}
      import assemblyai as aai
      from assemblyai.streaming.v3 import (
          StreamingClient,
          StreamingClientOptions,
          StreamingParameters,
      )

      api_key = "<YOUR_API_KEY>"

      # No api_host override needed — Edge Routing is the default
      client = StreamingClient(
          StreamingClientOptions(
              api_key=api_key,
          )
      )

      client.connect(
          StreamingParameters(
              sample_rate=16000,
              speech_model="universal-3-5-pro",
          )
      )
      client.stream(aai.extras.MicrophoneStream(sample_rate=16000))
      ```

      ```python title="Python" highlight={6}  theme={null}
      import websocket
      from urllib.parse import urlencode

      YOUR_API_KEY = "<YOUR_API_KEY>"
      CONNECTION_PARAMS = {"sample_rate": 16000, "speech_model": "universal-3-5-pro"}
      API_ENDPOINT_BASE_URL = "wss://streaming.assemblyai.com/v3/ws"
      API_ENDPOINT = f"{API_ENDPOINT_BASE_URL}?{urlencode(CONNECTION_PARAMS)}"

      ws = websocket.WebSocketApp(
          API_ENDPOINT,
          header={"Authorization": YOUR_API_KEY},
      )

      ws.run_forever()
      ```

      ```javascript title="JavaScript SDK"  theme={null}
      import { AssemblyAI } from "assemblyai";

      // No streamingBaseUrl override needed — Edge Routing is the default
      const client = new AssemblyAI({
        apiKey: "<YOUR_API_KEY>",
      });

      const transcriber = client.streaming.transcriber({
        sampleRate: 16_000,
        speechModel: "universal-3-5-pro",
      });

      await transcriber.connect();
      ```

      ```javascript title="JavaScript" highlight={6}  theme={null}
      const WebSocket = require("ws");
      const querystring = require("querystring");

      const YOUR_API_KEY = "<YOUR_API_KEY>";
      const CONNECTION_PARAMS = { sample_rate: 16000, speech_model: "universal-3-5-pro" };
      const API_ENDPOINT_BASE_URL = "wss://streaming.assemblyai.com/v3/ws";
      const API_ENDPOINT = `${API_ENDPOINT_BASE_URL}?${querystring.stringify(CONNECTION_PARAMS)}`;

      const ws = new WebSocket(API_ENDPOINT, {
        headers: {
          Authorization: YOUR_API_KEY,
        },
      });
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="US data residency">
    Use the US Data Zone endpoint to keep your audio and transcription data within the United States.

    <CodeGroup>
      ```python title="Python SDK" highlight={13}  expandable theme={null}
      import assemblyai as aai
      from assemblyai.streaming.v3 import (
          StreamingClient,
          StreamingClientOptions,
          StreamingParameters,
      )

      api_key = "<YOUR_API_KEY>"

      client = StreamingClient(
          StreamingClientOptions(
              api_key=api_key,
              api_host="streaming.us.assemblyai.com",
          )
      )

      client.connect(
          StreamingParameters(
              sample_rate=16000,
              speech_model="universal-3-5-pro",
          )
      )
      client.stream(aai.extras.MicrophoneStream(sample_rate=16000))
      ```

      ```python title="Python" highlight={6}  theme={null}
      import websocket
      from urllib.parse import urlencode

      YOUR_API_KEY = "<YOUR_API_KEY>"
      CONNECTION_PARAMS = {"sample_rate": 16000, "speech_model": "universal-3-5-pro"}
      API_ENDPOINT_BASE_URL = "wss://streaming.us.assemblyai.com/v3/ws"
      API_ENDPOINT = f"{API_ENDPOINT_BASE_URL}?{urlencode(CONNECTION_PARAMS)}"

      ws = websocket.WebSocketApp(
          API_ENDPOINT,
          header={"Authorization": YOUR_API_KEY},
      )

      ws.run_forever()
      ```

      ```javascript title="JavaScript SDK" highlight={5}  theme={null}
      import { AssemblyAI } from "assemblyai";

      const client = new AssemblyAI({
        apiKey: "<YOUR_API_KEY>",
        streamingBaseUrl: "wss://streaming.us.assemblyai.com",
      });

      const transcriber = client.streaming.transcriber({
        sampleRate: 16_000,
        speechModel: "universal-3-5-pro",
      });

      await transcriber.connect();
      ```

      ```javascript title="JavaScript" highlight={6}  theme={null}
      const WebSocket = require("ws");
      const querystring = require("querystring");

      const YOUR_API_KEY = "<YOUR_API_KEY>";
      const CONNECTION_PARAMS = { sample_rate: 16000, speech_model: "universal-3-5-pro" };
      const API_ENDPOINT_BASE_URL = "wss://streaming.us.assemblyai.com/v3/ws";
      const API_ENDPOINT = `${API_ENDPOINT_BASE_URL}?${querystring.stringify(CONNECTION_PARAMS)}`;

      const ws = new WebSocket(API_ENDPOINT, {
        headers: {
          Authorization: YOUR_API_KEY,
        },
      });
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="EU data residency">
    Use the EU Data Zone endpoint to keep your audio and transcription data within the European Union.

    <CodeGroup>
      ```python title="Python SDK" highlight={13}  expandable theme={null}
      import assemblyai as aai
      from assemblyai.streaming.v3 import (
          StreamingClient,
          StreamingClientOptions,
          StreamingParameters,
      )

      api_key = "<YOUR_API_KEY>"

      client = StreamingClient(
          StreamingClientOptions(
              api_key=api_key,
              api_host="streaming.eu.assemblyai.com",
          )
      )

      client.connect(
          StreamingParameters(
              sample_rate=16000,
              speech_model="universal-3-5-pro",
          )
      )
      client.stream(aai.extras.MicrophoneStream(sample_rate=16000))
      ```

      ```python title="Python" highlight={6}  theme={null}
      import websocket
      from urllib.parse import urlencode

      YOUR_API_KEY = "<YOUR_API_KEY>"
      CONNECTION_PARAMS = {"sample_rate": 16000, "speech_model": "universal-3-5-pro"}
      API_ENDPOINT_BASE_URL = "wss://streaming.eu.assemblyai.com/v3/ws"
      API_ENDPOINT = f"{API_ENDPOINT_BASE_URL}?{urlencode(CONNECTION_PARAMS)}"

      ws = websocket.WebSocketApp(
          API_ENDPOINT,
          header={"Authorization": YOUR_API_KEY},
      )

      ws.run_forever()
      ```

      ```javascript title="JavaScript SDK" highlight={5}  theme={null}
      import { AssemblyAI } from "assemblyai";

      const client = new AssemblyAI({
        apiKey: "<YOUR_API_KEY>",
        streamingBaseUrl: "wss://streaming.eu.assemblyai.com",
      });

      const transcriber = client.streaming.transcriber({
        sampleRate: 16_000,
        speechModel: "universal-3-5-pro",
      });

      await transcriber.connect();
      ```

      ```javascript title="JavaScript" highlight={6}  theme={null}
      const WebSocket = require("ws");
      const querystring = require("querystring");

      const YOUR_API_KEY = "<YOUR_API_KEY>";
      const CONNECTION_PARAMS = { sample_rate: 16000, speech_model: "universal-3-5-pro" };
      const API_ENDPOINT_BASE_URL = "wss://streaming.eu.assemblyai.com/v3/ws";
      const API_ENDPOINT = `${API_ENDPOINT_BASE_URL}?${querystring.stringify(CONNECTION_PARAMS)}`;

      const ws = new WebSocket(API_ENDPOINT, {
        headers: {
          Authorization: YOUR_API_KEY,
        },
      });
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>