What is Video Compression?

Video compression uses algorithms (codecs like H.264, H.265/HEVC, VP9, AV1) to reduce file size by exploiting spatial redundancy within frames and temporal redundancy between frames. Lossy compression (the standard for social media) permanently removes visual data that is less perceptible to human vision. The trade-off is always between file size and quality: higher compression = smaller files but more visible artifacts (blockiness, banding, blur). Different platforms have different upload limits and recommended bitrates. For example, Discord Free limits uploads to 8MB (25MB with Nitro), while YouTube accepts files up to 256GB. Understanding compression settings is essential for maintaining quality while meeting platform requirements. BlitzReels provides platform-specific compression presets that optimize the quality-size balance for each platform's requirements.