title: AVPlayer vs. AVAudioPlayer
body: <p>The <a href="https://developer.apple.com/reference/avfoundation/avplayer" rel="noreferrer">documentation for AVPlayer</a> states the following:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>[The] player works equally well with local and remote media files</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>However, the <a href="https://developer.apple.com/reference/avfoundation/avaudioplayer" rel="noreferrer">documentation for AVAudioPlayer</a> states the following:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Apple recommends that you use this class for audio playback unless you are playing audio captured from a network stream</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>For the work I am doing I need some of the capabilities of AVAudioPlayer, but all my audio is being streamed. The main thing I need from AVAudioPlayer that AVPlayer does not have is the "playing" property. It is difficult to build a player UI without that property, among others.</p>
  
  <p>So what is the difference between AVPlayer and AVAudioPlayer that makes the latter unsuitable for network streaming? Is there a way to get some of the info from AVPlayer that AVAudioPlayer provides such as the "playing" property?</p>