Video Formats & Codecs

What is H.264?

H.264 (also called AVC) is the most widely used video compression codec, delivering good quality at relatively low bitrates with near-universal device and platform compatibility.

H.264 Explained

H.264 (Advanced Video Coding) was standardized in 2003 and remains the default codec for web video, streaming, and social media uploads. It balances compression efficiency with decoding speed, making it playable on virtually every device from smartphones to smart TVs. YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and all major platforms accept H.264 encoded MP4 files. The codec supports resolutions up to 8K and frame rates up to 300fps. While newer codecs like H.265 (HEVC) and AV1 offer better compression ratios, H.264 remains the safest choice for maximum compatibility. BlitzReels exports video using H.264 by default for universal playback support.

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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.

H.265

H.265 (also called HEVC) is a video compression codec that delivers up to 50% better compression than H.264 at the same quality, enabling smaller files and higher resolutions.

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.

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.

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.