MP4 is a compressed video file format used for high-quality movies. It is similar to MP3 but for video. MP4 files can be played on many video players and non-compatible programs can read them with a codec. The format is efficient and allows for streaming and storing hours of video clips. Files in MP4 format are marked with “.mp4” and variations can specify audio or video files.
A Motion Picture Experts Group-4 (MPEG-4 or MP4) file is a compressed video file capable of packing a high-quality movie into a small amount of storage space. In many ways, MP4 is similar to the Motion Picture Experts Group-3 (MP3) audio file format, except that it is normally used for video. Many video players are compatible with files in the MP4 format, and non-compatible programs can read the files with the help of a tool called a codec.
The need for audio and video compression has come along with the need to transfer large audio and video files quickly and efficiently. To overcome this problem, the mass of information contained in an audio or video file is translated into a more concise and transferable language. This language then becomes known as the “file format” and as long as the program being used can read that file format, any file in that format can be translated and then played.
A simple analogy would be the term “MP4” itself. To facilitate quick communication, the phrase Motion Pictures Expert Group-4 has been compressed into an abbreviated version. People familiar with the subject hear the abbreviated version “MP4” but fully understand that it refers to the Motion Pictures Expert Group’s fourth file format. The MP4 format does essentially the same thing with video files, compressing the information into a format that can be read and processed more quickly.
The word “codec” comes from the words “compression” and “decompression”, which is essentially what they do. An MP4 codec is needed to teach any incompatible player the specific “language” used in the file. These codecs are usually distributed in packs, which makes keeping up to date with new file formats much easier, because users can cover all the most common formats with just one download.
The MP4 format is more efficient than its predecessor, Motion Picture Experts Group-2 (MPEG-2) and is widely used. The format allows users to “stream” video content from the Internet, playing the video content as the file is downloaded to the user’s computer hard drive. The format has made video files so much more easily transferable that it is common for portable devices to be able to store hours of video clips thanks to file compression.
Generally, files in MP4 format will be marked with the “.mp4” extension at the end of the file name. There are variations of this, however. The letters “a” and “v” can be added to specify audio and video files, respectively.
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