There is no single best video codec, as your choice will entirely depend on your needs. You Might Also Like: Best HTML5 Players for Professional Video and Streaming The crucial thing to note here is that not all programs accept all types of containers and codecs, so you’d be wise to use multi-format encoding when looking to get your content to a variety of different devices. They will only open and allow the codecs to work their magic if the target device or program supports the stored codec. These containers can hold several types of codecs, so they are essentially just a storage unit and should not be confused with codecs. Here are some of the most common container formats: Audio One vital thing we have to mention before moving to our picks for the best video codecs is the difference between a codec and a container format.Ĭontainer format is a package or a wrapper that contains all the necessary metadata of a digital file, including an audio codec, video codec, and closed captioning.

The Differences Between a Codec and a Container Format That means they will be much smoother and with higher frame rates. Without codecs, all digital media files would take dozens of times longer to download!Īlso, codecs optimize video files for playback. The reason you need a codec is simple - uncompressed audio and video files are massive! That makes it challenging to transport them, particularly over the internet. You Might Also Like: Best Hardware Encoders for Live Streaming: How to Choose the Right One Video encoding also reduces the size of compressed files significantly, making storing and distributing them much easier.īut what is the role of video codecs in the encoding process? Why do you need a video codec anyway? What are the best video codecs out there, and how do you choose the right one? These are just some of the questions we will answer in this article, so let’s get into it! In short, video encoding is a process of compressing video files to play smoothly like a video recording instead of a quick, laggy, slideshow of individual images. Video codecs play an integral role in video encoding, which is why almost anyone can create and consume videos nowadays. Do you know what happens behind the scenes of every video recording? Let us immediately tell you one thing - if it weren’t for video codecs, videos wouldn’t be so widely accessible! Many people worldwide consume video content daily, but few know just how complex and intricate video technology can be. Experts estimate that 82% of all internet traffic will consist of video by 2021, which shows how popular video has become nowadays.

Video codec after effects