We all like watching videos. There are various types of video formats in which you can play a video on multimedia devices. A video file format is a file format in which digital video data is saved within a computer system.
Since the videos feature a larger file size, some video file formats have a greater ability to compress the video and thus reduce the file size without compromising the quality of the video file.
In this article, we will learn about 6 of the best video formats.
Top Video Formats at a Glance
- MP4
- MOV.QT
- FLV
- AVI
- WMV
- MKV
1. MP4
It is one of the most popular video formats ever since it was introduced in the year 2001. It is one of the few file formats that most of the digital platforms and devices currently support.
Apart from allowing the users to save a video file, you can also use the file format to save audio files, still images, text, and subtitles. Even after maintaining a smaller file size, the videos are maintained in higher quality.
Some of the key benefits of MP4 include;
- Multiple platform support
- Features a high compression ratio
- Enhanced integration with 3D graphics
- MP4 is versatile in its characteristics
2. MOV
Apple introduced the MOV file format for powering the QuickTime Player videos. It comes with all the features users expect in a video file format: videos, audios, subtitles, etc.
However, this high-quality video file format is of larger file size and consumes more memory or storage space within the digital device you are using.
It is compatible across various versions of QuickTime Player for both Mac and Windows operating systems. You can also convert MOV to MP4. To know more about it, click the link setapp.com.
Key benefits of MOV video file format include;
- Users can perform editing seamlessly without any hassles.
- The data are easily being stored. Hence the user can edit the file without any need for rewriting it.
3. FLV
FLV is yet another video file format that is compatible with a wide range of video platforms and browsers. It is a video file format used by Adobe Flash Player. It is a popular choice for streaming videos through video streaming channels such as YouTube.
The smaller file size makes it easier for users to download a video in this file format. It is one of the reasons why it has been a standard video file format in most of the embedded videos on the internet. However, most streaming services have started to opt for HTML5 instead of FLV in the last few years.
Key Benefits of FLV video file format
- Improved and higher compression rates
- Easily compatible with mobile devices
- Option to convert the video files into flash format
- Compatibility with Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems
4. AVI
AVI, also known as Audio Video Interlace, is a video file format comprised of audio and video data within a file container. One of the key highlights of this video file format is its ability to allow synchronous audio with video playback.
However, since AVI uses less compression, the file size is large and can be a hurdle for electronic devices with limited storage space.
Key benefits of AVI video file format include;
- Compatible with various types of video devices
- Good for beginners who want to try creating a playable DVD
- Compatible with Windows Media Player
5. WMV
Microsoft introduced the WMV codec and was the popular video file format while playing videos in Windows Media Player.
Because of its smaller file size, it is an ideal video file format for online video streaming. Whether selling video content online or through Blu-Ray Discs or HD DVD, WMV is one of the most preferred video file formats.
This video file format can compress the large file size of the videos while ensuring the quality of the video remains the best.
Benefits of WMV video file format include;
- Improved video quality
- Designed exclusively for Windows devices
- Higher compression rates
- The quality of the video can be preserved using minimal disc memory
6. MKV
MKV is yet another popular video file format that features audio files, video files, and subtitles into a single file. It is a flexible and easy-to-use video file format that supports any audio format and video file format.
Benefits of MKV video file format include;
- Enhanced online streaming compatibility
- It is compact
- Error Recovery
- Subtitle Recovery
Conclusion
The above mentioned are six top video formats users should prefer for. In addition, various other file formats, such as Realvideo, WebM, etc., are also considered a popular video file format.
