Video Formats & Codecs

What is Codec?

A codec is a software algorithm that encodes raw video data into a compressed format for storage or transmission, and decodes it for playback. Common video codecs include H.264, H.265 (HEVC), VP9, and AV1.

Codec Explained

The word codec is a portmanteau of 'encoder' and 'decoder.' Every video file uses a codec to compress the enormous amount of raw pixel data into a manageable file size. H.264 (AVC) remains the most universally compatible codec and is the standard export format for most social media platforms. H.265 (HEVC) offers roughly 50% better compression at equivalent quality but has slower encoding and slightly less universal playback support. Newer codecs like AV1 provide even better compression ratios and are increasingly adopted by streaming platforms. The choice of codec affects file size, encoding speed, visual quality, and platform compatibility. BlitzReels exports video using platform-optimized codec settings so creators do not need to configure codec parameters manually.

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Related Terms

Video Compression

Video compression is the process of reducing video file size by removing redundant visual data using codecs, while maintaining acceptable visual quality for the intended use.

Bitrate

Bitrate is the amount of data used to represent each second of video, measured in kilobits per second (Kbps) or megabits per second (Mbps). Higher bitrate generally produces better video quality at the cost of larger file size.

Encoding

Video encoding is the process of converting raw or uncompressed video data into a compressed digital format using a codec, producing a file suitable for storage, streaming, or distribution.

Export Preset

An export preset is a saved configuration of video output settings including codec, resolution, bitrate, aspect ratio, and format, allowing creators to apply consistent export parameters across multiple projects.