Video Formats & Codecs

What is Video Format?

A video format is a file container specification that defines how video, audio, metadata, and subtitle tracks are packaged together, such as MP4, MKV, MOV, or WebM.

Video Format Explained

Video formats (containers) are distinct from codecs: the container holds the data, while the codec compresses and decompresses it. MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14) is the most universally supported format, compatible with all browsers, phones, and social platforms. MKV (Matroska) supports more codecs and features but has limited web support. MOV (Apple QuickTime) is common in Apple ecosystems. WebM (Google) is optimized for web playback. When exporting video for social media, MP4 with H.264 or H.265 codec is the safest choice. BlitzReels exports to MP4 by default and offers conversion tools for MKV, MOV, and WebM.

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BlitzReels provides the tools and automation to put these concepts into practice.

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Related Terms

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.

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.

Resolution

Video resolution is the number of pixels displayed in each frame, expressed as width by height (e.g., 1920x1080 for 1080p, 3840x2160 for 4K), determining the sharpness and detail level of the video.

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.