Video Codecs
Introduction A video codec (coder-decoder) is a technology that compresses and decompresses digital video data. Uncompressed digital video files are extremely large, making them impractical for storage and transmission. Codecs address this issue by reducing file sizes, enabling efficient storage and streaming while striving to maintain acceptable video quality. It is important to understand that compression is a trade-off: Greater compression generally means smaller file sizes but can potentially lead to some loss of quality, although modern codecs are very good at minimizing this. Types of Video Codecs Several video codecs exist, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, optimized for different use cases. Here are some of the most prominent. H.264 (Advanced Video Coding, AVC) Despite being an older codec, H.264 remains widely supported due to its balance of compression efficiency and quality as well as compatibility with a vast range of devices. However, newer codecs offer better pe...