A Video file format is a type of file format for storing digital video data to a compressed file size on a computer system which include MP4, MOV and AVI. Video as a form of entertainment that is incredibly prevalent today. Any clip you watch, whether it’s on your smartphone, computer, YouTube, TV, or tablet, is made in a specific format. All video files usually have two components: a container and a codec. The video file container stores the audio, video subtitles, or any other data in the file, while the codec encodes and decodes all of these data types in the video file.
Some devices are not compatible with certain video file formats, which brings in the need to convert videos from one format to the other. Therefore, an understanding of the video file formats that are out there is important, especially due to various video editing softwares accepting certain video file formats. Regardless of how you watch videos, you need to use the right video file format for the right platform, player, or medium to avoid potential frustrations. When you understand video formats, working with video files becomes easier. Let’s take a look at a few common video file formats that you are most likely to encounter or need to use.
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5 Common Video File Formats Explained
1. MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14)
Moving Pictures Expert Group 4 (MPEG 4), or simply MP4, was created in 1998. This file format was created by Motion Pictures Expert Group and has been used for setting digital video and audio standards. The file format utilizes separate compression for audio from that of video. The best thing about MP4 files is that they are excellent for web video sharing. They are also very common due to their enhanced video quality, as well as their relatively small file size.
2. MOV (QuickTime File Format)
This format, commonly referred to as QuickTime file format, was developed by Apple. It is common among Macintosh users. The file format is used mostly on the web for saving movies and other video files. One setback is that this video format is only compatible with Apple-supported computers. This is why converting MOV to mp4 becomes a necessity when you need the video to play on some devices. MP4 files also have a lower failure rate.
Today, a new version developed known as QuickTime X is available on Mac OS X Snow Leopard, Lion, and Mountain Lion. For the Windows operating system, a free version of the QuickTime Player is available. MOV is one of the best video file format, although these files tend to consume more storage space compared to MP4.
3. WMV (Windows Media Video)
Windows Media Video (WMV) was developed by Microsoft and is widely used in Windows media players. This file format provides very small-sized files, making it a preferred option for online video streaming uses. If you are worried about running out of space on your device and you have to store plenty of videos, converting them into WMV can be a worthwhile option.
However, this works best if you are more concerned more about storing large volumes of video and audio minimal storage space rather than the quality. In other words, WMV videos can be compressed into very tiny files, and this affects the resulting video quality.
While these files are specifically created for use on windows-powered devices, this doesn’t necessarily lock out Apple device users. IOS and macOS users can download WMV-compatible players on their iPhone or Mac to play their favorite WMV videos without a glitch.
4. FLV (Flash Video)
Next on our list is the FLV video file format, which most of us have probably used more than a few times. The video files often have the .flv extension and primarily use Adobe Air or Adobe Flash Player for transmission. If you like streaming videos, movies, or other visual content on sites like YouTube, and social media, then you are an avid consumer of FLV. These videos are also quite common in the world of online gaming.
The files are relatively small, and easy to download. Their major setback is their incompatibility with some browsers and mobile devices like iPhones. This is perhaps why many streaming services prefer HTML5 to flash video files. Nonetheless, third-party FLV-compatible players like VLC and Winamp can be downloaded online in a flash. They can also be converted easily to MP4, AVI, and other video file formats using standalone and web-based apps.
5. AVI (Audio Video Interleave)
This video format was introduced in 1992 by Microsoft. The compression rates used by the AVI file format are relatively smaller compared to other formats. This is in part why AVI video formats provide a high-quality picture and viewership experience.
However, AVI files are often very large, and thus take up more space on the media in which they are stored. An AVI file could take up to 2 or 3 gigabytes of storage space per minute of video. Nonetheless, it is possible to create and edit AVI video files without any compression, so it can easily suit your needs. The best part is that as long as you do not exceed the maximum degree of compression allowed, the file does not lose quality over time regardless of how many times it is opened or saved.
Despite the compression limitations and storage space caveat, some advantages of the AVI video format include:
- Superior video and audio quality
- The file can be run on multiple platforms, hardware, and software
- They are easy to store on static and portable media storage such as HDD, SSD, and DVD
- The compression ratio is easy to attain
- The high compression capacity favors the use of AVI in short video clips, movies, ads, and promos
Video File Format Summary
As you have realized by now, digital video files come in a wide range of formats with the common ones being MP4, MOV, AVI. Each format has its own merits, which you can consider when choosing the one that best suits your needs. Whether you are a seasoned video producer, an online marketer, or you just need to get some entertainment on your computer or digital player, your experience will be limited to the video formats you choose. In other words, it all depends on your needs and how you intend to use the video. The above are just a few of the most common video formats you should know about.
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