WebM container file types are made for creating videos for the web, whether posted on the biggest social apps or must-see video streaming services. So if you’re producing engaging content for platforms like TikTok and YouTube, WebM is a compatible file you could use.
Royalty-free and open source, WebM could be perfect for your next project — discover how it works and how to use it.
A WebM file is a video saved in the WebM format, designed for sharing content online. It has a container structure which is similar to MKV (Matroska video format). WebM shops compressed visual and audio data, to keep the file size down and take up minimal storage space.
WebM compresses audio data using either Opus or Vorbis audio codec and video data using either VP8 or VP9 codec. This helps keep file sizes under control, while still retaining a high audio quality.
WebM is also used in HTML5 audio and visual elements and supported by most major browsers, whether natively or through a plug-in. This widens the number of devices and platforms WebM videos are compatible with.
WebM was released in May 2010 after its development was started by Xiph and ON2 — the latter of which was acquired by Google shortly before the official launch. WebM was based on the MKV container format and so Matroska was also involved in the construction of the file.
Originally, WebM supported Vorbis audio streams and VP8 video streams. After the 2013 update incorporated additional streams, including VP9 for video and Orbis for audio, this broadened the number of streams it could contain.
The latest WebM release was in 2019, where the v1.9.0 version was launched to add support for the NV12 pixel format — widening the compatibility for better picture quality in WebM videos. Today, WebM also supports the new AV1 codec, which is another royalty-free coding format for online video streaming.
WebM files are used for both commercial and non-commercial projects, as the file type is completely royalty-free to use. This is perfect if you’re creating videos designed for internal use or videos shared on social platforms.
Because of that, WebM files are popular on video streaming sites that use HTML5 to stream content — this is the streaming technology that allows you to watch a video online, before it has fully downloaded.
YouTube is one prominent example of a video-sharing site which uses WebM for all videos, ranging from 360 p video to high resolution. Skype and Wikimedia also use WebM.
Before choosing a WebM file for your next video project, it’s important to weigh up its pros and cons.
Find out which container file types are supported by Adobe Premiere
The WebM file format was specifically designed for use on the web, which makes it relatively simple to open.
HTML5 <video> tags are usually embedded in the websites, so you can open the file easily using the on-screen controls within your web browser.
If the browser does not support WebM, you may get an error message. If this occurs, it should be possible to download a free plug-in for that browser and reload the page once installed.
There are multiple third-party tools available online to help with creating and editing a WebM file. Many of these are converters, allowing the user to convert other video files into WebM formats and vice-versa.
Each tool has its own process for file creation and editing. A typical editing process would involve:
As WebM is a container file type rather than a codec, you will need to convert it to edit in Adobe Premiere. You can do this using a secure third-party converter.
WebM and MP4 work in similar ways but there are several key differences. While both use compressed files, WebM files tend to be slightly smaller. The main difference is in the type of codec used. MP4 uses H.264 rather than VP8 or VP9 which results in a lower quality of video.
However, a benefit of MP4 is that most smartphones support it, while WebM can currently only be used on Android devices and isn’t supported on iOS.
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