Introduction
A Raw data in digital format is represented in 0s and 1s. When this required data is collected in form of 0s and 1s is called the information. We can understand this information easily.
So a encoder or codec compress the information. Which consume less space. This is also called as Coded Information or Encoded Information.
Now this Coded Information with Metadata can be collected in a container. Now this container is used to send this Codec Information and Metadata over various medium.
Where metadata represents the information about video or audio content. Lets now discuss more about it.
What Is Video Container ?
Containers contains the audio and video content with Subtitles, Ponies and Metadata information. Where this audio and video content is available in the encoded form which is called the codec.
Each Container have its different properties. These properties are divided according Codec Support and Transportation Medium. A single container can support one or more than one codecs.
Explain Me What Are Codecs In Brief ?
Where codec support defines the quality and bandwidth consumption. While Transportation Medium defines way to transfer media from one side to another side. Which can be over internet or from a physical devices.
Where some video containers are good for sending the video over internet while others are good for storage devices.
Video Container are defined in file format like MP4, AVI and MOV etc.
What Is Working Of Container ?
There are three role and responsibilities of a container are,
(1) Packaging
(2) Transportation
(3) Presentation
Various audio and video contents or codecs with metadata and subtitle is available in single file format container.All of these things are available in a manner inside a container.
Now these containers are good for transportation. In which some are good for transportation on reliable medium while other for unreliable medium.
Where reliable transportation medium is established between two directly connected storage devices at high speed via cable. Where unreliable medium can be internet because of its congestion.
This defines the transportation of container.
At the receiving end a container tells the player or operating system that what file format container it is like MP4 container, MOV container and OGG container etc. This is known as presentation part of container.
Then after a player checks the container information (codec, metadata & subtitle etc.) available inside it. If it is understand by player in proper manner then player plays it. Otherwise player will reject the file for playing.
High end video editors uses the uncompressed video data for editing.
What Are Types Of Container File Formats ?
There are various container file formats available supporting different codecs in it.
(1) MP4 Container
MP4 container is widely used and very famous video container represent as .MP4 Extension. It supports various codecs like MPEG 4, H.263, H.264 and H.265 codecs etc. It provides better video quality in small bandwidth consumption.
It is widely used in Streaming Media Industry.
(2) AVI Container
AVI container is the old container represented as .AVI file format or Extension. It does support various codecs and can be played in various players.
It is good for storage media in storage device because it did not perform well for streaming media. Because its file size is large.
(3) FLV Container
FLV container is old container. It does support the adobe flash players because it was developed by adobe. It is also widely used. It is represented as .FLV extension.
It supports VP6 and AVC codecs etc. It provides good quality video in low bandwidth consumption.
(4) MOV Container
MOV container was developed by the Apple. It represented in .MOV & .QT file format Extension. It is played in the Quick Time player only. While some other third players also support it.
It does support various codecs like H.261, H.263 and H.264 etc. It provides us very good video quality with a large file size.
(5) MKV Container
MKV container was developed by the CoreCodec. It does support virtually any video and audio codec.
It is widely used in the cinemas. Where film recording is transferred to others. It is the new codec.
(6) TS Container
It was developed by the MPEG. It is represented as MPEG TS with .TS extension. It supports various codecs like MPEG 1 , MPEG 2, MPEG 4 and H.264 etc.
Where audio codecs like AAC and MP3 etc.
(7) OGG Container
It was developed by Xiph Organization. It supports the video codecs like Theora and OGGvus etc. While audio codecs like Vorbis and Opus etc.
(8) WMV Container
WMV container is good for sending the videos online. Because it consume the less amount of bandwidth. Its quality is not that much good.
Windows Media Player does support this container.
Conclusion
Containers are used to send the various audio video streams with subtitles and metadata over a high speed or low speed medium.
A single video container file format does support the various codecs which enhanced this streaming media industry. Because it reduced the complexity of network.
Which containers you use widely for your network and why ? Let us know in the comment section below.
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reference : 3gpp
