Video
A category of file formats covered by Format Atlas.
About this category
AVIAVI is a RIFF-based container for audio and video streams. The .avi extension does not identify the internal codecs, so playback and file size vary by content.FLVFLV was used as a Flash Video container. For existing files, inspect both the video and audio codecs; modern browser playback should not be assumed from the .flv extension.HLS playlist`.m3u8` is a text playlist format used by HTTP Live Streaming (HLS). It does not contain the video or audio; tags and URIs point to media segments or other playlists. A master playlist describes variant streams and alternate renditions, while a media playlist lists segments.M4S media segment`.m4s` is an extension used for media segments in delivery based on the ISO Base Media File Format (ISO BMFF). A segment contains part of fragmented MP4 audio or video and is referenced by a DASH or HLS manifest. Playback usually also needs initialization data for tracks and codecs, plus a manifest that describes segment order and timing. An `.m4s` file is not itself a playlist such as an MPD or `.m3u8`.M4VM4V is used for MPEG-4-related video files and may resemble MP4 structurally. The extension alone cannot establish the video/audio codecs, DRM status, or playback support.MKVMKV is a Matroska container, not a video codec. It can hold video, multiple audio and subtitle tracks, and chapters; playback depends on the internal formats and player.MOVMOV is based on the QuickTime File Format and can hold video and audio. The .mov extension alone does not reveal codecs, track layout, or compatibility with a recipient's tools.MP4MP4 is an MPEG-4 Part 14 container based on the ISO Base Media File Format. It can hold video and audio, but .mp4 alone does not identify codecs such as H.264, HEVC, AV1, or AAC.MPEG-DASH MPD`.mpd` is the XML manifest used by MPEG-DASH, formally called a Media Presentation Description (MPD). It describes presentation periods, adaptation sets, representations such as video qualities, and how to locate media segments. The audio and video are stored separately; the MPD tells a player how the presentation is arranged and where to fetch it.MXFMXF (Material Exchange Format) is a professional container for exchanging video, audio, and other essence together with structural metadata describing their relationships. SMPTE ST 377-1 defines the common file structure, including partitions and header/body/footer organization, but does not by itself prescribe every essence container or descriptive metadata scheme. Compatibility depends on the combination of operational pattern, essence mapping, codecs, and application specification, so `.mxf` alone does not identify playback support or contents.OGVOGV is an extension for video streams in an Ogg container. The .ogv suffix does not identify the video or audio codec; playback depends on the player's support.3GP3GP is a multimedia container defined by 3GPP for continuous media. It can store video and audio, but the extension alone does not identify codecs or guarantee playback.MPEG-2 Transport Stream`.ts` is a common extension for the MPEG-2 Systems Transport Stream defined by ISO/IEC 13818-1. It packetizes and multiplexes video, audio, and signaling data, with structure intended to help synchronization and recovery in error-prone transmission environments. HLS can use TS media segments; RFC 8216 requires each such segment to contain a single MPEG-2 program and specifies table requirements. `.ts` is also used for TypeScript source files, so the extension alone does not identify the content.WebMWebM is a subset of Matroska for web media. It may combine VP8, VP9, or AV1 video with Vorbis or Opus audio; WebM itself is not a single codec or a guarantee of smaller files.