A webinar is a web-based seminar. It can be instructional, such as its use as an online video learning tool for a large audience, or conversational, such as its use as an online meeting tool. In an L&D context, webinars usually feature both instructional and conversational components. An industry expert presents on a topic to an audience, and then a Q&A period follows with interaction between audience members and the presenter and moderators. This is sometimes by video or audio but more often using a chat pane or messaging function. The main webinar software companies are Citrix GoToMeeting, Adobe Connect, Saba Meeting, OnStream, On24 and of course, Google Hangouts.
