STREAMING GLOSSARY
Definitions, examples and related terms for this part of your viewing setup.
TERMS & EXAMPLES
A codec defines how audio or video is encoded and decoded. A player needs an appropriate decoder to turn the compressed information into pictures or sound. Codec support can depend on the software, hardware, profile and other stream properties; recognising a filename or opening a container does not establish complete decoding compatibility.
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A media container packages video, audio, subtitles and related information into a file or delivery structure. It describes how those components are organised rather than prescribing one universal codec. A player must understand the container and the encodings inside it, so a familiar extension does not guarantee that every contained track can be played.
Read more →H.264, also known as AVC, is a video compression standard used in many broadcasting, recording and streaming workflows. Encoders can produce different profiles, levels and other settings within the standard. A device's broad H.264 compatibility therefore still needs to suit the actual stream's resolution, frame rate and encoding properties to decode it correctly.
Read more →H.265, also called HEVC, is a video compression standard designed for efficient representation of video across a range of uses. Practical playback requires a decoder compatible with the stream's profile, level and other properties. Hardware support varies between devices, and software decoding can place substantial demand on a processor when compatible hardware is unavailable.
Read more →AV1 is a video compression format used in modern media workflows. Devices can decode it through suitable hardware or software, depending on their capabilities and the application. As with other codecs, successful playback depends on the complete encoding properties and player implementation, rather than only on the display being labelled 4K or smart.
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MPEG transport stream is a container structure designed to carry one or more programmes and their associated media or timing information. It is used in broadcast and streaming systems, including some segmented delivery arrangements. A receiver still needs to understand the encodings and signalling inside the transport stream to present the programme correctly.
Read more →MP4 is a media container format that can hold video, audio and other timed information. It supports a range of encodings and arrangements, including forms used in streaming workflows. The extension alone therefore says little about the exact codec, resolution or audio tracks that a device will need to decode during playback.
Read more →Matroska, commonly identified by the MKV extension, is a container that can hold multiple media tracks and associated information. A file can include several audio languages or subtitle tracks, but their presence is not guaranteed. Playback requires the player to understand both the container and the particular formats used inside it.
Read more →Transcoding converts media from one encoded form to another. It can change the codec, resolution, bitrate or other properties when the processing workflow supports those changes. It uses computing resources and can introduce quality loss or delay. A player setting cannot assume that a server will transcode a source merely because a device needs another format.
Read more →Remuxing moves existing encoded media tracks into a different container or packaging arrangement without re-encoding those tracks. It can change how compatible software accesses the media while preserving the encoded picture and sound. It does not solve every codec problem, because the underlying compression formats can remain unchanged after the packaging is altered.
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