codec

Digital format converter

A codec is software or hardware that compresses and decompresses digital media—audio, video, or both.

The term blends "coder" and "decoder." Different codecs optimize for different purposes: some prioritize file size, others quality, others speed.

The video won't play because you're missing the right codec.

Common examples include MP3 for audio and H.264 for video.

video

H.264

Video compression standard

  • VP9German polymer-frame pistol
  • MPEG-4Multimedia compression standard
  • MPEG-2Digital video compression standard

framerate · bitrate · transcoding · streaming · resolution · 4K · 1080p · keyframe · I-frame · deinterlacing

compression

lossy

Sacrificing fidelity for size

ratio · artifact · blocking · banding · quantization · perceptual · efficiency · filesize · bandwidth

audio

mp3

Compressed audio encoding

  • wavAudio file extension
  • opusNumbered artistic creation
  • bitrateData transfer speed

lossless · lossy · sampling · fidelity · stereo · mono · channels · audio compression · transcoding · atmos

processing

hardware acceleration

Using dedicated chips for speed

  • softwarePrograms directing computer operations
  • handbrakeStationary vehicle lock
  • GPUVisual processing hardware

real-time · latency · rendering

container

format

Arrangement and presentation style

  • muxMulti-input signal router
  • demuxDivides combined signal
  • wrapperOuter protective layer

metadata · tracks · streams · packaging · interleaving · m4a

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Family

decode, coder, decoding, encode, decoder, encoding, recode, encoder, codecs

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