Video codec

From open-encyclopedia.com - the free encyclopedia.

A video codec is a codec, i.e. a computer program that compresses and decompresses digital video data according to a given video file format or streaming video format.

There are two basic types of video codecs: lossless video codecs and lossy video codecs.

Lossless video codecs preserve all the image information in the digital video, and compress the data - if at all - by packing it more efficiently. Lossless video codecs are used wherever preserving quality is essential. To the extent feasible, they are used throughout the production and posproduction chain, from initial capture or synthesis, through cutting, editing, compositing, special effects, and archival, all the way up to the point of distribution.

Lossy video codecs compress the video data by throwing away information that is less important or less noticeable. Lossy video codecs are used for viewing and distribution, where compactness is the overriding concern.