There are many different types of video file formats. Some of the most common video file types are MP4, MPG, WMV, and MPEG.
If you want to find out more about video file extensions, we’ll explain what they are and what they’re used for.
The video file format is a type of file format used to store digital video that can be easily stored and played back.
Video files consist of ‘containers’ and ‘codecs’.
Video containers contain multiple embedded data streams, such as visual and audio data. Other components include metadata such as subtitles, date, size, and the codec.
Codecs compress or decompress large amounts of data. They can play back the data in a container.
Various media players support video file types, including Windows Media Player and Apple’s QuickTime player.
The main purpose of video file formats is to contain video data for storage and playback. But in order to play the video file on your computer, the file itself will need to be coded with the correct audio and video information.
There are many different video file types, all with their own specifications. Find out more about the different video formats.
There are a collection of different types of video file formats currently available that each have their own characteristics that make them perfect for video projects.
Or “Web Media” is an alternative to the HTML5 format. It’s a similar file format to MP4, differing only in the codecs. They are mainly used in royalty-free video offerings. A prime example of their usage would be in memes on the internet.
Is an abbreviation that’s derived from the Motion Picture Experts Group, who are responsible for standardizing the video file. MPG files usually contains MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 video and audio data. They are very popular and you can play them on VideoLAN ,VLC Media player, Microsoft Media Player, and Apple QuickTime.
Is a digital video format for MPEG-4. This is one of the most common video formats. Its main use is for video, however you can also use it for audio files as well. It contains one of the most popular audio codecs — the AAC, which is of superior sound quality to most other formats.
One of the free open-source video output types, developed by The Xiph Org Foundation. Royalties and licensing fees aren’t applicable for these video file extensions. Windows Media Player doesn’t support it, however it’s playable on the likes of VLC Media Player and KMPlayer.
Audio Video Interleave, which stores video and audio data encoded in codecs such as DivX. It’s one of the oldest digital video formats and uses less compression than other video formats such as MOV and MPEG. AVI enjoys support on iOS and Android devices and is often used for DVDs, due to its capacity to play HD video formats well.
Developed by Apple, MOV is compatible with Apple’s QuickTime player, hence its popularity on devices such as iPhones and iPads. As well as being the standard video and audio file type, the format can hold text.
Released in 2003 for use with Adobe Flash Player for streaming films and TV programmes on the internet. It’s also open source, which means it’s supported on non-official programs. FLV is rare since the retirement of Flash.
There are a few factors worth considering when you have to choose from different video formats for your project. Context is king, so you’ll need to consider the following factors:
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