Anyone who has experienced the situation of not being able to play a video because the file format was not accepted by the player, knows the size of the frustration. This happens because there are several possibilities for storing audiovisual content, each with its specificities, advantages, and disadvantages.
Therefore, it is important to understand the differences between each format.
Video files: understand the differences between formats
But before we get to know the different types of video files, it is necessary to understand the concept of codecs, which are encoders/decoders, implemented via hardware or software, with the function of interpreting digital signals.
In other words: in order to be able to watch a video on a specific device, which can be a smartphone, tablet, computer, or smart TV, for example, a specific codec is needed, capable of “deciphering” the content of the file.
And for videos to perform well in the player they were formatted for, you need to know the different types available.
AVI video format
The acronym AVI stands for Audio Video Interleave. Developed by Microsoft and therefore compatible with Windows versions, this type of file serves to store the audio and video tracks, which will be played synchronously during material playback.
It is the format usually used by DVD and Blu-Ray players that are compatible with the DivX codec.
FLV video format
This is the file format used by Adobe Flash Player, it is quite versatile, being supported by all platforms and video browsers, so it is also widely used in online video streaming tools, such as YouTube.
FLV files are often relatively small compared to their competitors, making them easy to download.
However, it is not compatible with some mobile devices, such as iPhones.
MOV video format
MOV file format was developed by Apple, being a rival of AVI. Even so, it is compatible with Windows Media Player, in addition to QuickTime Player, its standard playback program is also available for Windows.
Its differential compared to the competitor is that, despite compressing videos into relatively small files, it implies a lower loss in sound and image quality. An online file converter can be used to watch MOV content on other devices.
MP4 video format
This is undoubtedly the most popular format, being compatible with YouTube. It was developed to preserve the quality of the videos, creating relatively small files. Its differential is that it does not need previously installed Codecs to run.
For this reason, it is a widely used option and is supported by most devices.
Also known as MPEG-4, it was one of the first file formats of the digital era.
RMVB video format
It is a format that produces very compact files, making it easier to download or upload videos on the internet. However, its main feature also turns out to be a disadvantage, as the video quality is lower than the others.
WMV video format
This format was developed by Microsoft with the mission of replacing AVI, preserving the quality of the video, in addition to being compatible with YouTube. It is a standard Windows format, eliminating the need to install additional codecs.
Microsoft’s own Windows Media Player automatically recognizes this format. Another advantage is that, like audio files with a WMA (Windows Media Audio) extension, playback is possible before the download is completed, as with YouTube.
Another feature is to create small files with better compression than MP4.
For all these reasons, it is popular on online video streaming platforms. The downside is that it is not compatible with Apple devices, but users can work around the problem by downloading Windows Media Player for iPhone or Mac.