View source for Comparison of video container formats

{{short description|None}}

These tables compare features of multimedia [[container format (digital)|container formats]], most often used for storing or streaming [[digital video]] or [[digital audio]] content. To see which multimedia players support which container format, look at [[comparison of video player software|comparison of media players]].

== General information ==
{{Hidden begin |title=Containers related by derivation |border=1px #aaa solid |ta1=center}}
In many ways, derived containers are similar to those on which they are based, sometimes extending them, sometimes limiting their capabilities.
{{col-float}}
{{Tree list}}
* [[QuickTime File Format|QTFF]]
** [[ISO base media file format|ISO BMFF]]
*** [[MPEG-4 Part 14|MP4]]
*** [[3GP and 3G2|3GPP, 3GPP2]]
*** [[Flash Video|F4V]]
{{Tree list/end}}
{{col-float-break}}
{{Tree list}}
* [[MPEG program stream|MPEG-PS]]
** [[MPEG transport stream|MPEG-TS]]
*** [[.m2ts|M2TS]]
** [[VOB]]
*** [[Enhanced VOB|EVOB]]
{{Tree list/end}}
{{col-float-break}}
{{Tree list}}
* [[Multimedia Container Format|MCF]]
** [[Matroska]]
*** [[WebM]]
{{Tree list/end}}
{{col-float-break}}
{{Tree list}}
* [[Resource Interchange File Format|RIFF]]
** [[Audio Video Interleave|AVI]]
*** [[DivX Media Format|DMF]]
{{Tree list/end}}
{{col-float-break}}
{{Tree list}}
* [[RealMedia|RM]]
** [[RMVB]]
{{Tree list/end}}
{{col-float-end}}
{{Hidden end}}

{{sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders sticky-header"
|+ General information about video container formats
|-
!scope="col" |Format
!scope="col" |[[Filename extension]]
!scope="col" |Owner or creator
!scope="col" |Initial release
!scope="col" |License<wbr/>{{efn |name=license-meaning |Indicates whether the standard is open or proprietary, patent-free or encumbered, whether [[royalty payment]]s are required for streaming and codec implementation, and may indicate the availability of free tools for it.<ref>{{cite conference |url=https://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/cws/en/cws_8/cws_8_item_3.pdf |title=Multimedia format issues for CWS task forces |date=23 October 2020 |conference=Eighth Session of the Committee on WIPO Standards (CWS) |conference-url=https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=57089 |publisher=World Intellectual Property Organization |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203123622/https://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/cws/en/cws_8/cws_8_item_3.pdf |archive-date=3 December 2021 |url-status=live |location=Geneva |id=CWS/8/ITEM 3 |access-date=3 December 2021}}</ref>}}
!scope="col" |[[Variable bit rate|VBR]] audio
!scope="col" |[[Variable frame rate|VFR]]
!scope="col" |Hardware players
!scope="col" |[[Streaming media|Streaming]]<wbr/>{{efn-ua |Indicates if the container can be used for a container bitstream, for example, for use as an [[RTP payload formats|RTP payload format]]. Some technologies, such as [[WebRTC]], do not use any container formats for streaming. Some use fragmented [[MPEG-4 Part 14|MP4]] (fMP4) or [[MPEG transport stream|MPEG-TS]] segment files, such as [[HTTP Live Streaming|HLS]] and [[Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP|MPEG-DASH]].<ref>{{cite web |vauthors=Siglin T |title=Understanding How to Acquire and Deliver Live Streams |url=https://www.wowza.com/blog/video-formats-for-live-streaming |website=Wowza Media Systems |access-date=8 December 2021 |date=8 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208180517/https://www.wowza.com/blog/video-formats-for-live-streaming |archive-date=8 December 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>}}
!scope="col" |[[Metadata]]<wbr/>{{efn-ua |Tags.}}
!scope="col" |Chapters
|-
!scope="row" |[[Matroska]]
|.mkv, .mk3d<wbr/>{{efn-ua |Also <code>.mka</code> for content that is primarily audio or <code>.mks</code> for subtitles only.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Matroska |title=Matroska Media Container Homepage |date=2018 |url=https://www.matroska.org/index.html |access-date=30 November 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031210114559/http://www.matroska.org:80/index.html |archive-date=2003-12-10 }}</ref>}}
|CoreCodec<wbr/>{{efn-ua |Although CoreCodec, Inc. holds the copyrights and trademarks for the Matroska specification, the specifications are open to everybody. The source code of the libraries developed by the Matroska team is licensed under the [[LGPL]] and [[BSD]] licenses.}}
|2002-12
|{{yes2 |Freely licensed}}<wbr/>{{efn-ua |Anyone can use it or modify it for their own needs without paying any license or patents.<ref>{{cite web |vauthors=Lhomme S, Vialle L, Bunkus M |publisher=Matroska |location=Roubaix, France |type=License |title=Legal Aspect |date=2018 |url=https://www.matroska.org/legal.html |url-status=live |access-date=30 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614103400/https://www.matroska.org/legal.html |archive-date=2020-06-14 }}</ref><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Partial draft |title=Matroska Multimedia Container |date=19 August 2020 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000342.shtml |access-date=17 December 2021 }}</ref>}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/>{{efn-ua |name=matroska-vbr-vfr |Matroska is designed to store VBR and VFR content.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Matroska |type=FAQ |title=Matroska FAQ |date=2018 |url=https://www.matroska.org/faq.html |access-date=17 December 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614103357/https://www.matroska.org/faq.html |archive-date=2020-06-14 }}</ref>}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/>{{efn-ua |name=matroska-vbr-vfr}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/>{{efn-ua |Companies producing Matroska-supporting hardware include [[Asus]],<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Asus]] |type=Product |title=O!Play Air |date=2015 |url=https://www.asus.com/Home-Entertainment/OPlay_Air/ |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref> [[OPPO Digital]],<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Oppo Digital]] |type=Guide |title=BDP-83/BDP-83SE Product Support |date=29 December 2001 |url=https://www.oppodigital.com/support/blu-ray-bdp-83/blu-ray-BDP-83-Support.aspx |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref> [[Samsung]],<ref>{{cite news |vauthors=Buchanan M |publisher=[[Gizmodo]] |title=Samsung's 2009 HDTV Lineup Leaked |date=29 December 2008 |url=https://gizmodo.com/samsungs-2009-hdtv-lineup-leaked-5120212 |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref> and [[LG]]<ref>{{cite web |vauthors=Wong P |publisher=[[CNET]] |website=CNET Asia |type=Guide |title=How to select the right LG HDTV (2010) |date=18 October 2010 |url=http://asia.cnet.com/how-to-select/tvs/lg/ |access-date=22 July 2019 |archive-date=10 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110030841/http://asia.cnet.com:80/how-to-select/tvs/lg |url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/>{{efn-ua |Matroska can be streamed over HTTP and RTP/RTSP, through it is not meant to be streamed over RTP, as the two have duplicate features.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Matroska |type=Guide |title=Matroska Streaming |date=2018 |url=https://www.matroska.org/technical/streaming/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=21 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525105737/http://www.matroska.org:80/technical/streaming/index.html |archive-date=2010-05-25 }}</ref>}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Matroska |type=Specification |title=Tag Specifications |date=2018 |url=https://www.matroska.org/technical/specs/tagging/index.html |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref>
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Matroska |type=Specification |title=Chapter Specifications |date=2018 |url=https://www.matroska.org/technical/specs/chapters/index.html |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row" |[[MPEG-4 Part 14]] (MP4)
|.mp4, .m4v<wbr/>{{efn-ua |Also <code>.m4a</code>, <code>.m4b</code> or <code>.m4p</code> for audio-only content.}}
|[[MPEG]]
|2001-10
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=MPEG-4 File Format, Version 2 |date=2 March 2012 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000155.shtml |access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{depends |Not standard}}<wbr/>{{efn-ua |There are two popular representations: text track (QuickTime), and userdata atom (Nero).<ref>{{cite web |website=Doom9's Forum |type=Forum message |title=MP4: how are chapters and text subs stored? |date=28 December 2012 |url=http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=166802 |access-date=2 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=FFmpeg |type=Manual |title=FFmpeg Formats Documentation |url=https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-formats.html |access-date=2 December 2021}}</ref>}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[QuickTime File Format]] (QTFF)
|.mov, .qt
|[[Apple Inc.]]
|1991-12
|{{proprietary}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=QuickTime File Format |date=14 February 2013 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000052.shtml |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Advanced Systems Format]] (ASF)
|.asf, .wmv<wbr/>{{efn-ua |Also <code>.wma</code> for audio-only content.}}
|[[Microsoft]]
|1996-09
|{{partial |Royalties on codecs}}<wbr/>{{efn-ua |License required from manufacturers or developers of codecs, but no license fees for the distribution of content.<ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=ASF (Advanced Systems Format) |date=6 April 2007 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000067.shtml |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |type=Guide |title=Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) – Relationship to Other Protocols |date=14 February 2019 |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/openspecs/windows_protocols/ms-rtsp/6cc00ee9-a5e7-49f2-8358-f9c449946e59 |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Audio Video Interleave]] (AVI)
|.avi
|[[Microsoft]]
|1992-11
|{{proprietary}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=AVI (Audio Video Interleaved) File Format |date=9 March 2016 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000059.shtml |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref>
|{{yes}}<wbr/>{{efn-ua |[[Audio Compression Manager|ACM]] cannot handle VBR audio streams in AVI files. Thus, software using ACM to read audio from AVI files will not be able to handle VBR audio streams correctly, even though such files are compliant to the AVI file specification. This is a limitation of the ACM, not of the AVI file format.}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/>{{efn-ua |Although AVI is not designed for variable framerates, it is possible to use them without creating a non-standard file by using 0-byte chunks for skipped frames. However, it requires the framerate to be set to the [[least common multiple]] of all framerates used, and produces slight overhead compared to true VFR.}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{needs |Needs alterations}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Material Exchange Format]] (MXF)
|.mxf
|[[Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers|SMPTE]]
|2004-09
|{{no Y |Patent-free}}<wbr/><ref name=congress-mxf>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=Material Exchange Format (MXF) |date=17 January 2012 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000013.shtml |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref name=congress-mxf />
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[MPEG program stream]] (PS)
|.m2p, .ps<wbr/>{{efn-ua |name=mpg-extension}}
|[[MPEG]]
|1993-08
|{{no Y |Patent-free}}<wbr/><ref name=congress-mpeg2>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=MPEG-2 Encoding Family |date=14 February 2012 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000335.shtml |access-date=13 December 2021 |quote=Licenses pertain to tools and not to streams or files per se.}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/>{{efn-ua |[[MPEG-2#ISO/IEC 13818|MPEG-2 Part 1]] specification,<ref name=iso-mpeg2-systems /> p. 64, sec. 2.6.3.}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[MPEG transport stream]] (TS)
|.ts, .tsv<wbr/>{{efn-ua |Also <code>.tsa</code> for audio-only content.}}{{efn-ua |name=mpg-extension |The following extensions are also often used for an MPEG [[MPEG program stream|program]] or a [[MPEG transport stream|transport]] stream: <code>.mpg</code>, <code>.mpeg</code>, <code>.mpv</code>, <code>.m1v</code>; also <code>.mpa</code>, <code>.mp3</code>, <code>.mp2</code>, <code>.mp1</code>, <code>.m2a</code> or <code>.m1a</code> for audio-only content.}}
|[[MPEG]]
|1995-07
|{{no Y |Patent-free}}<wbr/><ref name=congress-mpeg2 />
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |BDAV MPEG-2 transport stream ([[.m2ts|M2TS]])
|.m2ts, .mts
|[[Blu-ray Disc Association|BDA]]
|2004-08
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes2 |With [[Digital Video Broadcasting|DVB]]}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite web |website=Doom9's Forum |type=Forum message |title=Questions on m2ts |date=18 May 2015 |url=https://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1722710 |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{needs |Needs multiple files}}<wbr/>{{efn-ua |[[Blu-ray]] adopts a specific [[Blu-ray#Directory and file structure|file structure]]. Simple title metadata are stored in the <code>/BMDV/index.bdmv</code> file.}}
|{{needs |Needs multiple files}}<wbr/>{{efn-ua |[[Blu-ray]] adopts a specific [[Blu-ray#Directory and file structure|file structure]]. Chapters require a companion <code>.mpls</code> file in the <code>/BDMV/PLAYLIST/</code> directory.}}
|-
!scope="row" |Video Object ([[VOB]])
|.vob
|[[DVD Forum]]
|1996-11
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{needs |Needs multiple files}}<wbr/>{{efn-ua |name=vob-ifo |[[VOB]] adopts a specific [[VOB#Companion files|file structure]] to encode DVD content. Chapters and menus require a companion <code>.ifo</code> file.}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Enhanced VOB]] (EVO)
|.evo
|[[DVD Forum]]
|2006-03
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite mailing list |url=https://ffmpeg.org/pipermail/ffmpeg-devel/2007-January/027448.html |title=Support for HDDVD .evo files (MPG PS variant) in ffmpeg |date=16 January 2007 |mailing-list=ffmpeg-devel |vauthors=Caulfield I}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{needs |Needs multiple files}}<wbr/>{{efn-ua |[[Enhanced VOB|EVO]] adopts a specific file structure to encode HD DVD content. Chapters require companion <code>.xpl</code> file.<ref>{{cite web |website=Doom9's Forum |type=Forum message |title=Matching HD DVD chapter information to EVO file |quote=I figured these 4 files are needed to accomplish the task: the .xpl file where the chapter name and timestamp are located... |date=8 December 2007 |url=http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=132534 |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[3GP and 3G2|3GPP]] (3GP)
|.3gp
|[[3GPP]]
|2003-04
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[3GPP]] |location=Valbonne, France |type=Specification |number=3GPP TS 26.244 |title=Transparent end-to-end packet switched streaming service (PSS); 3GPP file format (3GP) |version=Version 15.0.0 (2018-06) |date=22 June 2018 |url=https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=1441 |access-date=20 July 2019}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[3GP and 3G2|3GPP2]] (3G2)
|.3g2
|[[3rd Generation Partnership Project 2|3GPP2]]
|2004-01
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Flash Video]] (F4V)
|.f4v<wbr/>{{efn-ua |Also <code>.f4a</code>, <code>.f4b</code> and <code>.f4p</code> for audio-only content.}}
|[[Adobe Inc.]]
|2007-12
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref name=adobe-video-cue-points>{{cite web |publisher=[[Adobe Inc.]] |type=Guide |title=Understanding cue points |date=10 September 2017 |url=https://help.adobe.com/en_US/as3/dev/WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d118a9b90204-7d36.html |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row" |[[Flash Video]] (FLV)
|.flv
|[[Adobe Inc.]]
|2003-09
|{{proprietary}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Partial draft |title=Macromedia Flash FLV Video File Format |date=8 December 2011 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000131.shtml |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{yes}}<wbr/>{{efn-ua |Adobe Flash Video File Format Specification,<ref name=flv-spec /> p. 1. SWF File Format Specification,<ref name=swf-spec /> p. 188.}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes2 |With [[Real-Time Messaging Protocol|RTMP]]}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref name=adobe-video-cue-points />
|-
!scope="row" |[[Ogg]]
|.ogv, .ogx<wbr/>{{efn-ua |Also <code>.oga</code>, <code>.ogg</code> or <code>.opus</code> for audio-only content.<ref name=rfc-5334 /><ref name=rfc-7845 />}}
|[[Xiph.Org Foundation|Xiph.Org]]
|2003-05
|{{open source}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=Ogg File Format |date=19 February 2008 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000026.shtml |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite web |title=Ogg bitstream overview |url=https://xiph.org/ogg/doc/oggstream.html |website=Xiph.org |access-date=3 December 2021 |date=2016 |url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000118122008/http://www.xiph.org:80/ogg/doc/oggstream.html |archive-date=2000-01-18 }}</ref>
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Xiph.Org Foundation]] |type=Specification |title=Metadata |date=24 July 2013 |url=https://wiki.xiph.org/Metadata |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref>
|{{yes2 |As [[Vorbis comment]]s}}<wbr/>{{efn-ua |Chapters stored as [[Vorbis comment]]s<ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Xiph.Org Foundation]] |type=Specification |title=Chapter Extension |date=19 August 2015 |url=https://wiki.xiph.org/Chapter_Extension |access-date=2 December 2021}}</ref> are well supported by common tools such as [[FFmpeg]] and [[VLC media player|VLC]].}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[WebM]]
|.webm
|[[Google]]
|2010-05
|{{free |Royalty-free}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Partial draft |title=WebM |date=19 August 2020 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000518.shtml |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref name=webm-guidelines />
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref name=webm-guidelines />
|-
!scope="row" |RealMedia Variable Bitrate ([[RMVB]])
|.rmvb
|[[RealNetworks]]
|2003
|{{Proprietary}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite web |website=MultimediaWiki |type=Guide |title=RealMedia |date=28 November 2018 |url=https://wiki.multimedia.cx/index.php/RealMedia |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[DivX Media Format]] (DMF)
|.divx
|[[DivX, Inc.]]
|2005-06
|{{Proprietary}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|}
Support level legend: {{color box|9EFF9E|Full}} {{color box|BFD|Indirect, lossless}} {{color box|FFB|Partial}} {{color box|FED|Depends on setup}} {{color box|FFC7C7|None}}
{{notelist-ua}}

Some features are only supported by a few containers:
* Attachments (additional files, such as fonts for subtitles) are only supported in [[Matroska]],<ref name=matroska-elements>{{cite tech report |publisher=Matroska |type=Draft |title=Specifications |section=Elements semantic |date=2018 |url=https://www.matroska.org/technical/specs/index.html |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref> [[MPEG-4 Part 14|MP4]] and [[QuickTime File Format|QTFF]]. [[.m2ts|M2TS]] supports attachments as multiple files in a specific [[Blu-ray#Directory and file structure|file structure]]: fonts for subtitles are in <code>.otf</code> files in the <code>/BDMV/AUXDATA/</code> directory.
* Interactive [[Menu (computing)|menus]] are only supported in [[MPEG-4 Part 14|MP4]], [[QuickTime File Format|QTFF]], [[.m2ts|M2TS]], [[Enhanced VOB|EVO]] and [[DivX Media Format|DMF]]. [[VOB]] supports interactive menus as multiple files in a specific [[VOB#Companion files|file structure]] for encoding DVD content, requiring a companion <code>.ifo</code> file. [[Matroska]] has been planning to support interactive menus as part of a draft specification since 2004.<ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Matroska |type=Draft |title=Menu Specifications |date=2018 |url=https://www.matroska.org/technical/menu/index.html |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref>
* [[Digital 3D]] is only supported at the container format level in [[Matroska]],<ref name=matroska-elements /> [[Material Exchange Format|MXF]]<ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers|SMPTE]] |location=White Plains, NY |type=Standard |number=ST 2070-1:2014 |title=Stereoscopic 3D in MXF for Operations – Common Provisions |doi=10.5594/SMPTE.ST2070-1.2014 |isbn=978-1-61482-808-2 |date=13 May 2014 |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7291725 |url-access=subscription |via=IEEE Xplore Digital Library}}</ref> and [[WebM]] (some stereo modes).<ref name=webm-guidelines>{{cite tech report |publisher=WebM Project |type=Specification |title=WebM Container Guidelines |date=28 November 2017 |url=https://www.webmproject.org/docs/container/ |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref> [[.m2ts|M2TS]] supports Digital 3D as multiple files in a specific [[Blu-ray#Directory and file structure|file structure]] for encoding stereoscopic video: [[Multiview Video Coding|MVC]] stereoscopic data is in <code>.ssif</code> files in the <code>/BDMV/STREAM/SSIF/</code> directory and require a respective base <code>.m2ts</code> file. Digital 3D in [[QuickTime File Format|QTFF]] and [[Advanced Systems Format|ASF]] is possible, but not standard. [[MPEG-4 Part 14|MP4]] only supports Digital 3D at the video format level.<ref>{{cite web |vauthors=Gavrilov K |website=sView |type=Guide |title=Stereoscopic Formats |date=2017 |url=http://www.sview.ru/en/help/input/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226161241/https://www.sview.ru/en/help/input/ |archive-date=26 February 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=26 July 2019}}</ref>

Some common multimedia file formats are not completely distinct container formats. Some are containers for specific audio and video coding formats, such as [[WebM]], a subset of [[Matroska]]. Some are combinations of common container formats and audio and video coding profiles, such as [[AVCHD]] and [[DivX#DivX formats|DivX formats]]. Although sometimes compared to [[DivX]] products, [[Xvid]] is neither a container format nor a video format, it is a software library that encodes video using specific coding profiles of the common MPEG-4 ASP video format. Those types of restrictions are intended to simplify the construction of multimedia recorders and players.

== Video coding formats support ==
{{See also|Comparison of video codecs}}

{{sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders sticky-header"
|+ Video container support for video coding formats
|-
!scope="col" |Format
!scope="col" |Type
!scope="col" |Initial release
!scope="col" |License<wbr/>{{efn |name=license-meaning}}
!scope="col" |[[Matroska|MKV]]
!scope="col" |[[MPEG-4 Part 14|MP4]]<wbr/><ref name=mp4ra-codecs>{{cite web |publisher=[[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]] |website=MP4RA – The MP4 Registration Authority – Official Registration Authority for the ISOBMFF family of standards |type=Registry |title=Codecs |url=http://mp4ra.org/#/codecs |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref>
!scope="col" |[[QuickTime File Format|QTFF]]<wbr/>{{efn |name=qtff-codecs |See the [[QuickTime File Format]] Specification<ref name=qtff-spec>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Apple, Inc.]] |location=Cupertino, CA |type=Specification |title=QuickTime File Format Specification |chapter=Media Data Atom Types |date=13 September 2016 |url=https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/QuickTime/QTFF/QTFFPreface/qtffPreface.html |chapter-url=https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/QuickTime/QTFF/QTFFChap3/qtff3.html |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref> and MP4RA's Entry Codes Registered for QuickTime.<ref name=mp4ra-codecs/>}}
!scope="col" |[[Advanced Systems Format|ASF]]<wbr/><ref name=microsoft-media-types />
!scope="col" |[[Audio Video Interleave|AVI]]<wbr/>{{efn |name=avi-codecs |AVI officially supports all codecs in the [[Media Foundation]]<ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |type=Specification |title=Supported Media Formats in Media Foundation |date=30 May 2018 |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/medfound/supported-media-formats-in-media-foundation |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref><ref name=microsoft-media-types>{{cite web |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |type=Index |title=Media Types |date=30 May 2018 |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/medfound/media-types |access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref> which is an evolution of {{abbr |VCM|Video Compression Manager}} and [[Audio Compression Manager|ACM]], both of which are now obsolete. Some older codecs used to be officially supported,<ref>{{cite IETF |vauthors=Fleischman E |publisher=[[Internet Engineering Task Force|IETF]] |rfc=2361 |title=WAVE and AVI Codec Registries |doi=10.17487/RFC2361 |date=June 1998 |url=https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc2361 |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref> and there are many known non-standard third-party extensions.<ref>{{cite web |vauthors=Wilson D |website=FOURCC.org |type=Index |title=Video Codecs by FOURCC |date=2016 |url=https://www.fourcc.org/codecs.php |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref>}}
!scope="col" |[[Material eXchange Format|MXF]]
!scope="col" |[[MPEG program stream|PS]], [[MPEG transport stream|TS]]<wbr/>{{efn-ur |See the [[MPEG-2#ISO/IEC 13818|MPEG-2 Part 1]] specification<ref name=iso-mpeg2-systems>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]] |type=Standard |number=ISO/IEC 13818-1:2000 |title=Information technology – Generic coding of moving pictures and associated audio information: Systems |edition=2nd |date=1 December 2000 |url=https://www.iso.org/standard/31537.html |url-access=subscription |archive-date=26 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126091729/http://neuron2.net/library/mpeg2/iso13818-1.pdf}}</ref> and registered [[MPEG transport stream|TS]] identifiers.<ref name=smpte-ra />}}
!scope="col" |[[3GP and 3G2|3GP, 3G2]]
|-
!scope="row" |[[High Efficiency Video Coding|MPEG-H HEVC (H.265)]]
|data-sort-value="50-lossy-or-lossless" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]] or [[Lossless compression|lossless]]
|2013-06
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Preliminary draft |title=High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) Family, H.265, MPEG-H Part 2 |date=19 November 2020 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000530.shtml |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{yes}}<wbr/>{{efn-ur |[[High Efficiency Video Coding|HEVC]] is mentioned in the latest (07) draft of [[Matroska]],<ref name=matroska-ietf /> [[MKVToolNix]] and [[VLC media player|VLC]] already support it.<ref>{{cite web |vauthors=Bunkus M |website=MKVToolNix – Matroska tools for Linux/Unix and Windows |type=Changelog |title=News |date=22 June 2019 |url=https://mkvtoolnix.download/doc/NEWS.md |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref>}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Apple, Inc.]] |location=Cupertino, CA |website=Apple Support |type=Knowledge base article |title=Using HEIF or HEVC media on Apple devices |date=12 April 2019 |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207022 |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers|SMPTE]] |location=White Plains, NY |type=Standard |number=SMPTE ST 381-5:2020 |title=Material Exchange Format – Mapping HEVC Streams into the MXF Generic Container |doi=10.5594/SMPTE.ST381-5.2020 |isbn=978-1-68303-227-4 |date=5 November 2020 |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9254191 |url-access=subscription |via=IEEE Xplore Digital Library}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[H.264/MPEG-4 AVC|MPEG-4 AVC (H.264)]]
|data-sort-value="50-lossy-or-lossless" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]] or [[Lossless compression|lossless]]
|2004-08
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=MPEG-4, Advanced Video Coding (Part 10) (H.264) |date=5 December 2011 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000081.shtml |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/>{{efn-ur |B-frames in an AVI file are a problem only for the ancient Video-for-Windows API, not for the AVI container itself.}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite book |vauthors=Lee J, Kalva H |publisher=[[Springer Publishing]] |title=The VC-1 and H.264 Video Compression Standards for Broadband Video Services |edition=1st |isbn=978-0-387-71042-6 |date=19 August 2008 |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9780387710426 |url-access=subscription |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[AV1]]
|data-sort-value="50-lossy-or-lossless" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]] or [[Lossless compression|lossless]]
|2018-03
|{{maybe |Patent claims}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref name="av1-mkv">{{cite tech report |publisher=IETF CELLAR working group |website=GitHub |type=Draft |title=AOM AV1 codec mapping in Matroska/WebM |version=Version 1 |date=2 August 2020 |url=https://github.com/ietf-wg-cellar/matroska-specification/blob/master/codec/av1.md |access-date=26 December 2021}}</ref><ref name=matroska-ietf/>
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{planned}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[VP9]]
|data-sort-value="50-lossy-or-lossless" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]] or [[Lossless compression|lossless]]
|2013-06
|{{maybe |Patent claims}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[VP8]]
|data-sort-value="50-lossy-or-lossless" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]] or [[Lossless compression|lossless]]
|2008-09
|{{maybe |Patent claims}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Dirac (video compression format)|Dirac]]
|data-sort-value="50-lossy-or-lossless" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]] or [[Lossless compression|lossless]]
|2008-03
|{{no Y |Patent-free}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite web |title=FAQ – Diracvideo |url=http://diracvideo.org/wiki/FAQ |url-status=usurped |website=Dirac Video Compression |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415034708/http://diracvideo.org/wiki/FAQ |archive-date=15 April 2009}}</ref>
|{{yes2 |{{abbr |VCM|Video Compression Manager}}}}<wbr/>{{efn |name=matroska-vfw}}
|{{No}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{needs |Needs Dirac}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite web |website=SourceForge |type=Repository |title=Dirac |date=4 June 2013 |url=https://sourceforge.net/projects/dirac/ |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref>
|{{no}}
|{{yes2 |Private}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Multiview Video Coding|MVC]]
|data-sort-value="60-lossy-or-lossless-stereoscopic" |[[Stereoscopic video coding|Stereoscopic]]
|2009-05
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref name=matroska-elements />
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}<wbr/>{{efn-ur |[[Multiview Video Coding|MVC]] is not covered by the latest iteration of the [[Material eXchange Format|MXF]] standards.<ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers|SMPTE]] |location=White Plains, NY |type=Standard |number=SMPTE ST 381-3:2017 |title=Material Exchange Format – Mapping AVC Streams into the MXF Generic Container |doi=10.5594/SMPTE.ST381-3.2017 |isbn=978-1-68303-108-6 |date=22 September 2017 |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8058102 |url-access=subscription |via=IEEE Xplore Digital Library|doi-access=free }}</ref>}}{{efn-ur |MPEG, MXF, and SMPTE 381M,<ref name=mxf-intro /> pp. 201-219.}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[MPEG-1 Part 2|MPEG-1 Video]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|1993-08
|{{no Y |Expired patents}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Mozilla]] |type=Specification |title=Web video codec guide |url=https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Media/Formats/Video_codecs |access-date=11 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=MPEG-1 Video Coding (H.261) |date=1 December 2011 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000035.shtml |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[H.262/MPEG-2 Part 2|MPEG-2 Video]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|1996-05
|{{no Y |Expired patents}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[MPEG-4 Part 2|MPEG-4 Visual]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|1999-12
|{{no Y |Expired patents}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{partial |First edition}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Windows Media Video#Versions|Microsoft MPEG4 V2]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|2003
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered, proprietary}}
|{{yes}}
|{{depends |Not standard}}
|{{depends |Not standard}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[VC-1]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|2006-02
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=Windows Media 9 Video Codec; SMPTE VC-1 |date=26 May 2010 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000081.shtml |access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{yes2 |{{abbr |VCM|Video Compression Manager}}}}<wbr/>{{efn |name=matroska-vfw}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers|SMPTE]] |location=White Plains, NY |type=Recommendation |number=SMPTE RP 2025:2007 |title=Recommended Practice – VC-1 Bitstream Storage in the ISO Base Media File Format |doi=10.5594/SMPTE.RP2025.2007 |isbn=978-1-61482-251-6 |date=4 April 2007 |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7289979 |url-access=subscription |via=IEEE Xplore Digital Library}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[H.263]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|1996-03
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}<wbr/><ref name=congress-h263>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=MPEG-4, Visual Coding (Part 2) (H.263) |date=14 March 2011 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000080.shtml |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Theora]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|2004-06
|{{free |Free license}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite web
|title=Theora FAQ
|url=https://xiph.org/theora/faq/
|url-status=live
|website=Xiph.org
|access-date=1 December 2021
|date=2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060520052147/http://xiph.org:80/theora/faq/ |archive-date=2006-05-20 }}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{needs |Needs [[ffdshow]]}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Cinepak]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|1991
|{{proprietary}}
|{{yes}}
|{{No}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Sorenson Media|Sorenson]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|1998-03
|{{proprietary}}
|{{yes}}
|{{No}}
|{{partial |Versions 1 and 3}}
|{{no}}
|{{partial |Version 1}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[RealVideo]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|1997-02
|{{proprietary}}
|{{partial |RV10, RV20, RV30, RV40}}
|{{partial |RV60}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{depends |Not standard}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[VP6]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|2003-05
|{{proprietary}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{needs |Needs [[VP6]]}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite web |website=Codecs.com |type=Repository |title=VP6 |version=Version 6.4.2.0 |date=29 December 2004 |url=https://www.free-codecs.com/download/vp6.htm |access-date=27 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |website=MultimediaWiki |type=Guide |title=On2 VP6 |date=14 September 2011 |url=https://wiki.multimedia.cx/index.php?title=On2_VP6 |access-date=27 November 2019}}</ref>
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[DV (video format)|DV]]
|data-sort-value="10-lossy-intra-frame" |[[Intra-frame coding|Intra-frame]]
|1995
|{{proprietary}}
|{{yes2 |{{abbr |VCM|Video Compression Manager}}}}<wbr/>{{efn |name=matroska-vfw |Matroska can support some codecs when wrapped in two specific [[Video for Windows]] data structures, VCM and ACM,<ref name=matroska-specs>{{cite tech report |publisher=Matroska |type=Specification |title=Codec Specs |date=2018 |url=https://www.matroska.org/technical/specs/codecid/index.html |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref> but support outside Windows may be limited.<ref name=matroska-specs />}}
|{{partial |DVCPRO HD}}
|{{partial |DV 25}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref name=mxf-dv>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers|SMPTE]] |location=White Plains, NY |type=Standard |number=SMPTE ST 383:2008 |title=For Television – Material Exchange Format (MXF) – Mapping DV-DIF Data to the MXF Generic Container (Standard) |doi=10.5594/SMPTE.ST383.2008 |isbn=978-1-61482-525-8 |date=13 March 2008 |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7291806 |url-access=subscription |via=IEEE Xplore Digital Library}}</ref>{{efn-ur |DV, DVC Pro, and DVCam in MXF,<ref name=mxf-intro>{{cite book |vauthors=Devlin B, Wilkinson J, Beard M, Tudor P |veditors=Wells N |publisher=[[Focal Press]] |location=Burlington, MA |title=The MXF Book: An Introduction to the Material eXchange Format |edition=1st |isbn=978-0-240-80693-8 |date=28 March 2006 |url=https://www.crcpress.com/The-MXF-Book-An-Introduction-to-the-Material-eXchange-Format/Wells-Morgan-Wilkinson-Devlin/p/book/9780240819396 |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref> pp. 166-172.}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Motion JPEG|M-JPEG]]
|data-sort-value="10-lossy-intra-frame" |[[Intra-frame coding|Intra-frame]]
|1994-05
|{{no Y |Expired patents}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=MJPEG (Motion JPEG) Video Codec |date=10 March 2016 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000063.shtml |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{yes2 |{{abbr |VCM|Video Compression Manager}}}}<wbr/>{{efn |name=matroska-vfw}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Motion JPEG 2000|MJ2]]
|data-sort-value="10-lossy-intra-frame" |[[Intra-frame coding|Intra-frame]]
|2003-12
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=Motion JPEG 2000 File Format |date=11 January 2012 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000127.shtml |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{depends |Not standard}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Apple ProRes]]
|data-sort-value="10-lossy-intra-frame" |[[Intra-frame coding|Intra-frame]]
|2007-04
|{{proprietary}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref name=prores>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Apple, Inc.]] |location=Cupertino, CA |type=White Paper |title=Apple ProRes |date=January 2020 |url=https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/docs/Apple_ProRes_White_Paper.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=21 July 2019 |pages=5, 26 |quote=With Final Cut Pro 10.3 or later, you can also export ProRes files inside an MXF metadata wrapper instead of exporting .mov files. ... A ProRes-encoded bitstream, typically in the form of a .mov file |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101102539/https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/docs/Apple_ProRes_White_Paper.pdf |archive-date=1 November 2021}}</ref>
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref name=prores />
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Huffyuv|HuffYUV]]
|data-sort-value="80-lossless-compressed" |[[Lossless compression|Lossless]]
|2000
|{{open source}}
|{{yes2 |{{abbr |VCM|Video Compression Manager}}}}<wbr/>{{efn |name=matroska-vfw}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{needs |Needs [[Huffyuv|HuffYUV]]}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite web |website=Codecs.com |type=Repository |title=HuffYUV |version=Version 2.2.0 |date=4 May 2004 |url=https://www.free-codecs.com/download/huffyuv.htm |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref>
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[YCbCr]]<wbr/>{{efn-ur |The digital [[YCbCr]] format is often informally called [[YUV]], the analog format used as basis for it.}}
|data-sort-value="89-lossless-uncompressed" |[[Uncompressed video|Not compressed]]
|1982
|{{no Y |Patent-free}}
|{{yes}}
|{{partial |[[SheerVideo]]}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers|SMPTE]] |location=White Plains, NY |type=Standard |number=SMPTE ST 377-1:2011 |title=Material Exchange Format (MXF) – File Format Specification |doi=10.5594/SMPTE.ST377-1.2011 |isbn=978-1-61482-517-3 |date=7 June 2011 |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7292073 |url-access=subscription |via=IEEE Xplore Digital Library}}</ref>
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |Other
|data-sort-value="98-other-active" |Other
|{{sdash}}
|{{varies}}
|{{sdash}}
|{{sdash}}
|{{included |style=max-width:7em |DVC Pro 50, Photo JPEG, Graphics, [[QuickTime Animation]]}}
|{{sdash}}
|{{included |style=max-width:7em |[[Intel Indeo|Indeo]]}}
|{{sdash}}
|{{included |style=max-width:7em |JPEG 2000, TICO}}
|{{sdash}}
|}
Support level legend: {{color box|9EFF9E|Full}} {{color box|BFD|Indirect, lossless}} {{color box|FFB|Partial}} {{color box|FED|Depends on setup}} {{color box|FFC7C7|None}}
{{notelist-ur}}

Some containers only support a restricted set of video formats:
* [[DivX Media Format|DMF]] only supports [[MPEG-4 Part 2|MPEG-4 Visual]] ASP with DivX profiles.
* [[Enhanced VOB|EVO]] only supports [[H.264/MPEG-4 AVC|MPEG-4 AVC]], [[MPEG-1 Part 2|MPEG-1 Video]], [[H.262/MPEG-2 Part 2|MPEG-2 Video]] and [[VC-1]].
* [[Flash Video|F4V]] only supports [[H.264/MPEG-4 AVC|MPEG-4 AVC]], [[MPEG-4 Part 2|MPEG-4 Visual]] and [[H.263]].
* [[Flash Video|FLV]] only supports [[MPEG-4 Part 2|MPEG-4 Visual]], [[VP6]], [[Sorenson Spark]] and Screen Video. [[H.264/MPEG-4 AVC|MPEG-4 AVC]] in FLV is possible, but not standard.{{efn |Adobe Flash Video File Format Specification,<ref name=flv-spec /> p. 72, sec. E.4.3.1; p. 1. SWF File Format Specification,<ref name=swf-spec>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Adobe Inc.]] |location=San Jose, CA |type=Specification |title=SWF File Format Specification |version=Version 19 |date=23 April 2013 |url=https://www.adobe.com/content/dam/acom/en/devnet/pdf/swf-file-format-spec.pdf |format=PDF |access-date=30 November 2021}}</ref> Chapter 14: Video, pp. 204-218.}}
* [[.m2ts|M2TS]] only supports [[H.264/MPEG-4 AVC|MPEG-4 AVC]], [[MPEG-1 Part 2|MPEG-1 Video]], [[H.262/MPEG-2 Part 2|MPEG-2 Video]], [[MPEG-4 Part 2|MPEG-4 Visual]] and [[VC-1]].
* [[Ogg]] only supports [[Theora]], [[Multiple-image Network Graphics|MNG]], [[JPEG Network Graphics|JNG]],{{efn |name=ogg-codecs |Xiph has standardized the support for codecs in Ogg,<ref name=rfc-5334>{{cite IETF |vauthors=Gonçalves I, Pfeiffer S, Montgomery C |publisher=[[Internet Engineering Task Force|IETF]] |rfc=5334 |title=Ogg Media Types |doi=10.17487/RFC5334 |date=September 2008 |url=https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5334 |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref> but added support for more codecs afterwards.<ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Xiph.Org Foundation]] |type=Specification |title=Specification of MIME types and respective codecs parameter |date=17 November 2015 |url=https://wiki.xiph.org/index.php/MIMETypesCodecs |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref><ref name=rfc-7845>{{cite IETF |vauthors=Terriberry T, Lee R, Giles R |publisher=[[Internet Engineering Task Force|IETF]] |rfc=7845 |title=Ogg Encapsulation for the Opus Audio Codec |doi=10.17487/RFC7845 |date=April 2016 |url=https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7845 |access-date=30 November 2021}}</ref>}} [[Portable Network Graphics|PNG]]<ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Xiph.Org Foundation]] |type=Specification |title=OggMNG |date=10 September 2015 |url=https://wiki.xiph.org/OggMNG |access-date=4 August 2019}}</ref> and [[Dirac (video compression format)|Dirac]].<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Xiph.Org Foundation]] |type=Index |title=OggDirac |date=11 July 2009 |url=https://wiki.xiph.org/OggDirac |access-date=4 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[BBC]] |location=[[London]] |type=Specification |title=Encapsulation of Dirac in Ogg |version=Version 1.0 |date=8 October 2008 |url=http://diracvideo.org/download/mapping-specs/dirac-mapping-ogg-1.0.pdf |format=PDF |url-status=dead |access-date=4 August 2019 |archive-date=31 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731021434/http://diracvideo.org/download/mapping-specs/dirac-mapping-ogg-1.0.pdf}}</ref> [[Firefox]] supports [[VP9]] and [[VP8]] in Ogg.<ref name=moz-container-formats>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Mozilla]] |type=Specification |title=Media container formats (file types) |date=13 June 2019 |url=https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Media/Formats/Containers |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref> [[VLC media player|VLC]] supports [[H.262/MPEG-2 Part 2|MPEG-2 Video]], [[MPEG-4 Part 2|MPEG-4 Visual]] and [[VC-1]] in Ogg.<ref>{{cite web |website=[[VideoLAN]] Wiki |type=Guide |title=Ogg |date=30 October 2009 |url=https://wiki.videolan.org/Ogg/ |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref>
* [[RMVB]] only supports [[RealVideo]] versions RV30, RV40 and RV60.
* [[VOB]] only supports [[MPEG-1 Part 2|MPEG-1 Video]] and [[H.262/MPEG-2 Part 2|MPEG-2 Video]].
* [[WebM]] only supports [[VP9]], [[VP8]],<ref name=webm-guidelines /> and [[AV1]].<ref name="av1-mkv" />

== Audio coding formats support ==
{{See also|Comparison of audio coding formats}}

{{sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders sticky-header"
|+ Video container support for audio coding formats
|-
!scope="col" |Format
!scope="col" |Type
!scope="col" |Initial release
!scope="col" |License<wbr/>{{efn |name=license-meaning}}
!scope="col" |[[Matroska|MKV]]
!scope="col" |[[MPEG-4 Part 14|MP4]]<wbr/><ref name=mp4ra-codecs />
!scope="col" |[[QuickTime File Format|QTFF]]<wbr/>{{efn |name=qtff-codecs}}
!scope="col" |[[Advanced Systems Format|ASF]]<wbr/><ref name=microsoft-media-types />
!scope="col" |[[Audio Video Interleave|AVI]]<wbr/>{{efn |name=avi-codecs}}
!scope="col" |[[Material eXchange Format|MXF]]
!scope="col" |[[MPEG program stream|PS]], [[MPEG transport stream|TS]]<wbr/><ref name=smpte-ra>{{cite web |publisher=[[Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers|SMPTE]] |location=White Plains, NY |website=SMPTE Registration Authority, LLC |type=Registry |title=List of Registered MPEG TS Identifiers |url=https://smpte-ra.org/registered-mpeg-ts-ids |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref>
!scope="col" |[[3GP and 3G2|3GP]]
!scope="col" |[[3GP and 3G2|3G2]]
|-
!scope="row" |[[Advanced Audio Coding|AAC]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|1997-12
|{{partial |Royalties on codecs}}<wbr/>{{efn-lg |License required from manufacturers or developers of codecs, but no license fees for the distribution of content.<ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=Advanced Audio Coding (MPEG-4) |date=22 June 2010 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000114.shtml |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{partial |{{nowrap |AAC-LC}}, {{nowrap |HE-AAC}}}}<ref name="aac-microsoft">{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |type=Specification |title=AAC Decoder |date=25 August 2021 |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/medfound/aac-decoder |access-date=22 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{partial |{{nowrap |AAC-LC}}, {{nowrap |HE-AAC}}}}<wbr/>{{efn-lg |name=avi-vbr-audio}}<ref name="aac-microsoft" />
|{{yes}}
|{{yes2 |Private}}
|{{partial |{{nowrap |AAC-LC}}, {{nowrap |HE-AAC}}}}
|{{partial |{{nowrap |AAC-LC}}, {{nowrap |HE-AAC}} v1}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[MP3]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|1991-12
|{{no Y |Expired patents}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=MP3 (MPEG Layer III Audio Encoding) |date=3 May 2017 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000012.shtml |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{partial |{{nowrap |MPEG-1}} Audio}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/>{{efn-lg |name=avi-vbr-audio |Setting <code>dwSampleSize</code> to 0 in the stream headers triggers VBR stream seeking<ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |type=Specification |title=AVISTREAMHEADER Structure |date=6 March 2008 |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/ms779638(v%3Dvs.85) |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref> allowing VBR audio formats in AVI.<ref>{{cite web |vauthors=Noé A |type=Guide |title=Myths about AVI |date=2006 |url=http://www.alexander-noe.com/video/amg/en_myths.html |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref>}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Dolby Digital|AC-3]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|1991-02
|{{no Y |Expired patents}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[ETSI]] |location=Valbonne, France |type=Standard |number=ETSI TS 102 366 |title=Digital Audio Compression (AC-3, Enhanced AC-3) Standard |version=Version 1.4.1 (2017-09) |chapter=Annex F: AC-3 and Enhanced AC-3 bit streams in the ISO Base Media File Format |date=1 September 2017 |url=https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_ts/102300_102399/102366/01.04.01_60/ts_102366v010401p.pdf |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes2 |Private}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Dolby Digital Plus|E-AC-3]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|2005-02
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}
|{{yes2 |[[QuickTime]]}}<wbr/>{{efn-lg |name=matroska-quicktime |Matroska can support some codecs privately when wrapped in a [[QuickTime]] data structure.<ref name=matroska-specs />}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[DTS (sound system)#DTS audio codec|DTS]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|1993-06
|{{proprietary}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes2 |Private}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Windows Media Audio|WMA]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|1999-08
|{{proprietary}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=WMA (Windows Media Audio) File Format |date=13 December 2016 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000027.shtml |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{yes2 |[[Audio Compression Manager|ACM]]}}<wbr/>{{efn |name=matroska-vfw}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Opus (audio format)|Opus]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|2012-09
|{{free |Royalty-free}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Vorbis]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|2000-05
|{{open source}}<ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=Ogg Vorbis Audio Format |date=19 February 2008 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000117.shtml |access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|{{depends |Private}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{failure |Tricky}}<wbr/>{{efn-lg |Vorbis is not officially supported in AVI. While it can technically be muxed into AVI using [[FFmpeg]], [[Nandub]] and AVI-Mux GUI<ref name=avimuxgui>{{cite web |vauthors=Noé A |type=Project |title=AVI-Mux GUI |version=1.17.8.3 |date=26 August 2010 |url=http://www.alexander-noe.com/video/amg/ |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref> many sources report trouble playing back the resulting files,<ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Avidemux |type=Specification |title=Supported output formats |date=11 November 2012 |url=https://www.avidemux.org/admWiki/doku.php?id=general:output_formats |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref> which are incompatible with existing Vorbis decoders for [[DirectShow]] and [[Audio Compression Manager|ACM]], occasionally causing desynchronization when seeking.}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[MPEG-1 Audio Layer II|MP2]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|1991-12
|{{no Y |Patent-free}}<wbr/>{{efn-lg |Proprietary tools.<ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Partial draft |title=MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 Layer II Audio Encoding |date=17 May 2012 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000338.shtml |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[MPEG-1 Audio Layer I|MP1]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|1991-12
|{{no Y |Expired patents}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[QDesign]] Music 1 and 2
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|1998
|{{proprietary}}
|{{yes2 |[[QuickTime]]}}<wbr/>{{efn-lg |name=matroska-quicktime}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding#ATRAC3 (LP2 and LP4 Modes)|ATRAC3]]
|data-sort-value="30-lossy-general" |[[Lossy compression|Lossy]]
|2000-09
|{{proprietary}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[FLAC]]
|data-sort-value="80-lossless-compressed" |[[Lossless compression|Lossless]]
|2001-07
|{{open source}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Apple Lossless|ALAC]]
|data-sort-value="80-lossless-compressed" |[[Lossless compression|Lossless]]
|2004-04
|{{open source}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[WMA Lossless]]
|data-sort-value="80-lossless-compressed" |[[Lossless compression|Lossless]]
|2003-01
|{{proprietary}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=Windows Media 9 Lossless Audio Codec |date=13 May 2010 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000094.shtml |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{yes2 |[[Audio Compression Manager|ACM]]}}<wbr/>{{efn |name=matroska-vfw}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[DTS (sound system)#DTS audio codec|DTS-HD]]
|data-sort-value="80-lossless-compressed" |[[Lossless compression|Lossless]]
|2011-08
|{{proprietary}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref name=mp4ra-codecs />
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Dolby TrueHD]]
|data-sort-value="80-lossless-compressed" |[[Lossless compression|Lossless]]
|2006-04
|{{proprietary}}
|{{yes2 |Mature}}<wbr/>{{efn-lg |[[Dolby TrueHD]] is supported by common tools such as [[MKVToolNix]] and [[VLC media player|VLC]].}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Meridian Lossless Packing|MLP]]
|data-sort-value="80-lossless-compressed" |[[Lossless compression|Lossless]]
|1999-03
|{{proprietary}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref name=mp4ra-codecs />
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes2 |Private}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Audio Lossless Coding|ALS]]
|data-sort-value="80-lossless-compressed" |[[Lossless compression|Lossless]]
|2006-03
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[MPEG-4 SLS|SLS]]
|data-sort-value="80-lossless-compressed" |[[Lossless compression|Lossless]]
|2006-06
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Linear pulse-code modulation|LPCM]]
|data-sort-value="89-lossless-uncompressed" |[[Uncompressed audio|Not compressed]]
|1979
|{{no Y |Patent-free}}<wbr/><ref name=congress-lpcm>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=Linear Pulse Code Modulated Audio (LPCM) |date=19 February 2008 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000011.shtml |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes2 |Private}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[A-law algorithm|A-law]] [[Pulse-code modulation|PCM]]
|data-sort-value="89-lossless-uncompressed" |[[Uncompressed audio|Not compressed]]
|1972-12
|{{no Y |Expired patents}}<wbr/><ref name=patent-alaw-ulaw>{{cite patent |country = US |number = 4404544A |status = patent |title = μ-Law/A-law PCM CODEC |gdate = 13 September 1983 |fdate = 9 April 1981 |inventor = Mirmira Dwarakanath |assign1 = AT&T Corporation}}</ref>
|{{yes2 |[[Audio Compression Manager|ACM]]}}<wbr/>{{efn |name=matroska-vfw}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[μ-law algorithm|μ-law]] [[Pulse-code modulation|PCM]]
|data-sort-value="89-lossless-uncompressed" |[[Uncompressed audio|Not compressed]]
|1972-12
|{{no Y |Expired patents}}<wbr/><ref name=patent-alaw-ulaw />
|{{yes2 |[[Audio Compression Manager|ACM]]}}<wbr/>{{efn |name=matroska-vfw}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[IEEE 754|IEEE floating-point]] PCM
|data-sort-value="89-lossless-uncompressed" |[[Uncompressed audio|Not compressed]]
|data-sort-value="1985" |≥1985
|{{no Y |Patent-free}}<wbr/>{{efn-lg |Special case of LPCM.<ref name=congress-lpcm />}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |Microsoft [[Adaptive differential pulse-code modulation|ADPCM]]
|data-sort-value="89-lossless-uncompressed" |[[Uncompressed audio|Not compressed]]
|1992-05
|{{proprietary}}
|{{yes2 |[[Audio Compression Manager|ACM]]}}<wbr/>{{efn |name=matroska-vfw}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref name=microsoft-media-types />
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[DV (video format)|DV]] Audio
|data-sort-value="89-lossless-uncompressed" |[[Uncompressed audio|Not compressed]]
|1995
|{{proprietary}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref name=mxf-dv />
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Adaptive Multi-Rate audio codec|AMR]]
|data-sort-value="10-lossy-speech" |[[Speech coding|Speech]]
|1999-06
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{partial |{{nowrap |[[Adaptive Multi-Rate audio codec|AMR-NB]]}}, {{nowrap |[[Adaptive Multi-Rate Wideband|AMR-WB]]}}}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[G.728]]
|data-sort-value="10-lossy-speech" |[[Speech coding|Speech]]
|1992-09
|{{no Y |Expired patents}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Speex]]
|data-sort-value="10-lossy-speech" |[[Speech coding|Speech]]
|2003-03
|{{open source}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=Speex Audio Codec, Version 1.2 |date=19 February 2008 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000259.shtml |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref>
|{{yes2 |[[Audio Compression Manager|ACM]]}}<wbr/>{{efn |name=matroska-vfw}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Qualcomm code-excited linear prediction|QCELP]]
|data-sort-value="10-lossy-speech" |[[Speech coding|Speech]]
|1994
|{{proprietary}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{partial |13K}}
|-
!scope="row" |Other
|data-sort-value="98-other-active" |Other
|{{sdash}}
|{{varies}}
|{{included |style=max-width:7em |[[Musepack]], [[WavPack]], TTA, any format supported by [[Audio Compression Manager|ACM]]}}
|{{sdash}}
|{{included |style=max-width:7em |IMA 4:1, non-[[IEEE 754|IEEE]] [[Floating-point arithmetic|floating-point]] PCM, integer PCM}}
|{{included |style=max-width:7em |Microsoft GSM 6.10}}
|{{included |style=max-width:7em |G.721, [[G.722]], [[G.723]], [[G.726]], [[G.729]]a, [[Continuously variable slope delta modulation|CVSD]], [[Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding|ATRAC1]], Dolby {{nowrap |AC-2}}}}
|{{sdash}}
|{{sdash}}
|{{included |style=max-width:7em |[[Enhanced Voice Services|EVS]]}}
|{{included |style=max-width:7em |[[Enhanced Variable Rate Codec|EVRC]], {{nowrap |[[Enhanced Variable Rate Codec B|EVRC-B]]}}, {{nowrap |EVRC-WB}}, [[Selectable Mode Vocoder|SMV]], {{nowrap |[[Variable-Rate Multimode Wideband|VMR-WB]]}}}}
|-
!scope="row" |Obsolete
|data-sort-value="99-other-obsolete" |Other
|{{sdash}}
|{{varies}}
|{{sdash}}
|{{sdash}}
|{{dropped |style=max-width:7em |MACE 3:1, MACE 6:1}}
|{{sdash}}
|{{dropped |style=max-width:7em |[[Truespeech]], many others}}
|{{sdash}}
|{{sdash}}
|{{sdash}}
|{{sdash}}
|}
Support level legend: {{color box|9EFF9E|Full}} {{color box|BFD|Indirect, lossless}} {{color box|FFB|Partial}} {{color box|FED|Depends on setup}} {{color box|FFC7C7|None}}
{{notelist-lg}}

Some containers only support a restricted set of audio formats:
* [[DivX Media Format|DMF]] only supports [[MP3]], [[Dolby Digital|AC-3]], [[DTS (sound system)#DTS audio codec|DTS]] and [[Linear pulse-code modulation|LPCM]].
* [[Enhanced VOB|EVO]] only supports [[MP3]], [[Dolby Digital|AC-3]], [[Dolby Digital Plus|E-AC-3]], [[DTS (sound system)#DTS audio codec|DTS]], [[MPEG-1 Audio Layer II|MP2]], [[MPEG-1 Audio Layer I|MP1]], [[DTS (sound system)#DTS audio codec|DTS-HD]], [[Dolby TrueHD]], [[Meridian Lossless Packing|MLP]] and [[Linear pulse-code modulation|LPCM]].
* [[Flash Video|F4V]] only supports [[Advanced Audio Coding|AAC]]{{efn |Adobe Flash Video File Format Specification,<ref name=flv-spec>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Adobe Inc.]] |location=San Jose, CA |type=Specification |title=Adobe Flash Video File Format Specification |version=Version 10.1 |date=3 September 2010 |url=https://www.adobe.com/content/dam/acom/en/devnet/flv/video_file_format_spec_v10_1.pdf |format=PDF |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref> pp. 7-8, sec. 1.8.}} and [[MP3]].
* [[Flash Video|FLV]] only supports [[Advanced Audio Coding|AAC]], [[MP3]], [[Linear pulse-code modulation|LPCM]], [[A-law algorithm|A-law]] [[Pulse-code modulation|PCM]], [[μ-law algorithm|μ-law]] [[Pulse-code modulation|PCM]], [[Speex]], [[Asao (codec)|Asao]] and SWF [[ADPCM]].{{efn |Adobe Flash Video File Format Specification,<ref name=flv-spec /> p. 70, sec. E.4.3.2; p. 1. SWF File Format Specification,<ref name=swf-spec /> Chapter 11: Sounds, pp. 177-192. SWF File Format Specification Version 10, ADPCM Compression.<ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Adobe, Inc.]] |type=Specification |version=Version 10 |title=SWF File Format Specification |section=ADPCM Compression |pages=213–215 |date=November 2008 |url=https://www.adobe.com/content/dam/acom/en/devnet/pdf/swf-file-format-spec-v10.pdf |access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref>}}
* [[.m2ts|M2TS]] only supports [[Dolby Digital|AC-3]], [[Dolby Digital Plus|E-AC-3]], [[DTS (sound system)#DTS audio codec|DTS]], [[DTS (sound system)#DTS audio codec|DTS-HD]], [[Dolby TrueHD]] and [[Linear pulse-code modulation|LPCM]].
* [[Ogg]] only supports [[Opus (audio format)|Opus]], [[Vorbis]], [[FLAC]], [[A-law algorithm|A-law]] [[Pulse-code modulation|PCM]], [[μ-law algorithm|μ-law]] [[Pulse-code modulation|PCM]], [[IEEE 754|IEEE floating-point]] PCM, [[Speex]] and CELT.{{efn |name=ogg-codecs}} OGMtools supports [[MP3]] and [[Dolby Digital|AC-3]] in Ogg.<ref name=ogmtools>{{cite web |vauthors=Bunkus M |type=Project |title=OGMtools |url=https://www.bunkus.org/videotools/ogmtools/ |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref>
* [[RMVB]] only supports [[Dolby Digital|AC-3]], [[Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding#ATRAC3 (LP2 and LP4 Modes)|ATRAC3]], [[G.728]], [[Advanced Audio Coding|AAC-LC]], [[Advanced Audio Coding|HE-AAC v1]], [[Digital AMPS|IS-54]], [[Cook Codec]], Sipro Lab, [[Algebraic code-excited linear prediction|ACELP]]-NET and RealAudio Lossless.
* [[VOB]] only supports [[MPEG-1 Audio Layer II|MP2]] directly. It also supports [[Dolby Digital|AC-3]], [[DTS (sound system)#DTS audio codec|DTS]], [[Meridian Lossless Packing|MLP]] and [[Linear pulse-code modulation|LPCM]] as private streams.<ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=DVD Resources for Open Source Development |type=Specification |title=DVD-Video – MPEG differences |date=2004 |url=http://dvd.sourceforge.net/dvdinfo/dvdmpeg.html |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref>
* [[WebM]] only supports [[Opus (audio format)|Opus]] and [[Vorbis]].<ref name=webm-guidelines />

Audio-only content can sometimes be placed in a simpler audio-only container, such as Native FLAC for [[FLAC]]<ref>{{cite web |type=FAQ |title=FLAC – faq |url=https://xiph.org/flac/faq.html |website=Free Lossless Audio Codec |publisher=[[Xiph.Org Foundation]] |access-date=1 December 2021 |year=2014 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111222239/http://xiph.org:80/flac/faq.html |archive-date=2013-01-11 }}</ref> and ADTS for [[Advanced Audio Coding|AAC]].

== Subtitle formats support ==
{{See also|Subtitles#Subtitle formats}}

{{sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders sticky-header"
|+ Video container support for subtitle formats
|-
!scope="col" |Format
!scope="col" |Type
!scope="col" |Initial release
!scope="col" |License<wbr/>{{efn |name=license-meaning}}
!scope="col" |[[Matroska|MKV]]<wbr/><ref>{{cite web |publisher=Matroska |type=Index |title=Subtitles |url=https://www.matroska.org/technical/subtitles.html |access-date=26 December 2021}}</ref>
!scope="col" |[[MPEG-4 Part 14|MP4]]
!scope="col" |[[QuickTime File Format|QTFF]]<wbr/>{{efn |name=qtff-codecs}}
!scope="col" |[[Advanced Systems Format|ASF]]<wbr/><ref name=microsoft-media-types />
!scope="col" |[[Audio Video Interleave|AVI]]<wbr/>{{efn-lr |[[Audio Video Interleave|AVI]] is not designed to embed subtitles, requiring changes to the format and third party tools such as [[DirectVobSub]]<ref>{{cite web |website=Codecs.com |type=Repository |title=DirectVobSub (VSFilter) |version=Version 2.46.4616 |date=15 July 2009 |url=https://www.free-codecs.com/download/directvobsub.htm |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref> and [[VLC media player|VLC]].}}
!scope="col" |[[Material eXchange Format|MXF]]<wbr/>{{efn-lr |[[Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers|SMPTE]] standardized the format for text subtitles in [[Material eXchange Format|MXF]]<ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers|SMPTE]] |location=White Plains, NY |type=Standard |number=SMPTE ST 429-5:2009 |title=D-Cinema Packaging – Timed Text Track File |doi=10.5594/SMPTE.ST429-5.2009 |isbn=978-1-61482-578-4 |date=9 March 2009 |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7291077 |url-access=subscription |via=IEEE Xplore Digital Library}}</ref><ref name=smpte-tt>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers|SMPTE]] |location=White Plains, NY |type=Standard |number=SMPTE ST 2052-1:2013 |title=Timed Text Format (SMPTE-TT) |doi=10.5594/SMPTE.ST2052-1.2013 |isbn=978-1-61482-759-7 |date=5 June 2013 |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7291854 |url-access=subscription |via=IEEE Xplore Digital Library|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |website=Cinepedia |type=Guide |title=Timed Text Track Files |date=11 March 2019 |url=https://cinepedia.com/accessibility/timed-text/ |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref> without a reference software implementation, leaving it to independent developers.<ref name=ccconvert>{{cite web |publisher=Drastic Technologies |location=Toronto |type=Product |title=ccConvert Suite for Closed Captioning |date=2018 |url=https://www.drastic.tv/productsmenu-56/mediareactorlist/cc-convert |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref>}}
!scope="col" |[[MPEG program stream|PS]], [[MPEG transport stream|TS]]<wbr/><ref name=smpte-ra />
!scope="col" |[[3GP and 3G2|3GP, 3G2]]
|-
!scope="row" |[[SubRip]]<wbr/>{{efn-lr |[[SubRip]] can be converted losslessly to and from native subtitle formats of several containers, and this conversion is supported by many common tools.}}
|data-sort-value="70-formatted-text" |[[Formatted text]]
|2000-03
|{{open source}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Matroska |type=Specification |title=SRT Subtitles |date=2020 |url=https://www.matroska.org/technical/subtitles.html#srt-subtitles |access-date=2020-11-28}}</ref>
|{{yes2 |As [[MPEG-4 Part 17|TTXT]]}}<wbr/><ref name=gpac-subtitling>{{cite tech report |vauthors=Concolato C |publisher=GPAC |type=Manual |title=Subtitling with GPAC |date=4 September 2014 |url=https://gpac.wp.imt.fr/2014/09/04/subtitling-with-gpac/ |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref>
|{{yes2 |As [[MPEG-4 Part 17|TTXT]]}}<wbr/><ref name=gpac-subtitling />
|{{okay |As [[SAMI]]}}<wbr/>{{efn-lr |Requires tools that are not officially related to the container format.<ref name=ccconvert />}}
|{{needs |Needs alterations}}<wbr/><ref name=avimuxgui />
|{{okay |As {{nowrap |SMPTE-TT}}}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes2 |As [[MPEG-4 Part 17|TTXT]]}}<wbr/><ref name=gpac-subtitling />
|-
!scope="row" |[[WebVTT]]
|data-sort-value="70-formatted-text" |[[Formatted text]]
|2010-08
|{{open source}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Matroska |type=Specification |title=WebVTT |date=2020 |url=https://www.matroska.org/technical/subtitles.html#webvtt |access-date=2020-11-28}}</ref>
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]] |type=Standard |number=ISO/IEC 14496-30:2018 |title=Information technology – Coding of audio-visual objects – Part 30: Timed text and other visual overlays in ISO base media file format |edition=2nd |date=1 November 2018 |url=https://www.iso.org/standard/75394.html |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
|{{yes2 |As [[MPEG-4 Part 17|TTXT]]}}<wbr/><ref name=gpac-subtitling />
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{okay |As {{nowrap |SMPTE-TT}}}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes2 |As [[MPEG-4 Part 17|TTXT]]}}<wbr/><ref name=gpac-subtitling />
|-
!scope="row" |[[Advanced SubStation Alpha|ASS]], [[SubStation Alpha|SSA]]
|data-sort-value="70-formatted-text" |[[Formatted text]]
|1996
|{{open source}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Matroska |type=Specification |title=SSA/ASS Subtitles |date=2020 |url=https://www.matroska.org/technical/subtitles.html#ssaass-subtitles |access-date=2020-11-28}}</ref>
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{needs |Needs alterations}}<wbr/><ref name=avimuxgui />
|{{okay |As {{nowrap |SMPTE-TT}}}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[MPEG-4 Part 17|TTXT]]<wbr/>{{efn-lr |[[MPEG-4 Part 17|TTXT]] is often called MPEG-4 Timed Text (MP4TT, MP4-TT) or 3GPP Timed Text (3GPP-TT, tx3g).}}
|data-sort-value="50-markup-generic-xml" |[[XML]]
|2006-04
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}
|{{no}}<wbr/>{{efn-lr |[[MPEG-4 Part 17|MPEG-4 Timed Text]] subtitles aren't supported in [[Matroska]] according to developer of [[MKVToolNix]].<ref>{{cite web |vauthors=Bunkus M |website=GitLab – MKVToolNix |type=Forum message |title=Subtitles importation issue with an MP4 file |quote=Well, MPEG-4 Timed Text subtitles are standard for the MP4 container format, they just aren't supported in anything else out there.&nbsp;... |date=25 February 2018 |url=https://gitlab.com/mbunkus/mkvtoolnix/issues/2224#note_60467777 |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref>}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref name=qtff-spec />
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Universal Subtitle Format|USF]]
|data-sort-value="50-markup-generic-xml" |[[XML]]
|2002-11
|{{proprietary}}
|{{planned}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{needs |Needs alterations}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[SAMI]]
|data-sort-value="55-markup-specialized-html" |[[HTML]]
|1998-06
|{{proprietary}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{needs |Needs alterations}}
|{{okay |As {{nowrap |SMPTE-TT}}}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[VSFilter|VobSub]]
|data-sort-value="20-picture" |Picture
|2001
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}
|{{yes2 |Mature}}<wbr/>{{efn-lr |name=matroska-subs-draft |[[VSFilter|VobSub]], PGS, [[Digital Video Broadcasting#Content|DVB-SUB]] and Ogg Kate are well supported by common tools such as [[MKVToolNix]] and [[VLC media player|VLC]]. The storage format is specified,<ref name=matroska-ietf>{{cite IETF |vauthors=Lhomme S, Bunkus M, Rice D |first3=Dave=[[Internet Engineering Task Force|IETF]] |draft=draft-ietf-cellar-codec |title=Matroska Codec |version=Version 14 |date=28 June 2025 |url=https://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-ietf-cellar-codec |access-date=23 April 2025}}</ref> but the specification is not officially approved yet.}}
|{{yes}}
|{{depends |Not standard}}
|{{no}}
|{{needs |Needs alterations}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |{{abbr |PGS|Presentation Graphic Stream}}<wbr/>{{efn-lr |name=hdmv-subs |HDMV PGS and TextST subtitles are used on [[HD DVD]] and [[Blu-ray]].}}
|data-sort-value="20-picture" |Picture
|2006-03
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}
|{{yes2 |Mature}}<wbr/>{{efn-lr |name=matroska-subs-draft}}
|{{partial |As [[VSFilter|VobSub]]}}<wbr/>{{efn-lr |Requires tools that are not officially related to the container format.<ref name=bdsup2sub />}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[Digital Video Broadcasting#Content|DVB-SUB]]<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[ETSI]] |location=Valbonne, France |type=Standard |number=ETSI EN 300 743 |title=Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); Subtitling systems |version=Version 1.3.1 (2006-11) |date=1 November 2006 |url=https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_en/300700_300799/300743/01.03.01_60/en_300743v010301p.pdf |access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref>
|data-sort-value="20-picture" |Picture
|1997-09
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}
|{{yes2 |Mature}}<wbr/>{{efn-lr |name=matroska-subs-draft}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers|SMPTE]] |location=White Plains, NY |type=Standard |number=SMPTE ST 436-1:2013 |title=MXF Mappings for VI Lines and Ancillary Data Packets |doi=10.5594/SMPTE.ST436-1.2013 |isbn=978-1-61482-783-2 |date=6 November 2013 |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7290051 |url-access=subscription |via=IEEE Xplore Digital Library|doi-access=free }}</ref>
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |Ogg Kate<wbr/><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Xiph.Org Foundation]] |type=Specification |title=OggKate |date=21 November 2017 |url=https://wiki.xiph.org/OggKate |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref>
|data-sort-value="30-picture-or-formatted-text" |Picture or [[formatted text]]
|2008-03
|{{open source}}
|{{yes2 |Mature}}<wbr/>{{efn-lr |name=matroska-subs-draft}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |TextST<wbr/>{{efn-lr |name=hdmv-subs}}
|data-sort-value="80-text-stream" |Text stream
|2006-03
|{{nonfree |Patent encumbered}}
|{{beta}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |[[MicroDVD]]
|data-sort-value="90-plain-text" |[[Plain text]]
|2000-03
|{{proprietary}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{needs |Needs alterations}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
!scope="row" |Other
|data-sort-value="98-other-active" |Other
|{{sdash}}
|{{varies}}
|{{included |style=max-width:7em |Generic bitmap images, generic plain text<wbr/><ref name=matroska-ietf />}}
|{{included |style=max-width:7em |[[MPEG-4 Part 11|BIFS]]}}
|{{included |style=max-width:7em |Quicktime [[Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language|SMIL]], {{nowrap |[[EIA-608]]}}, {{nowrap |[[CTA-708]]}}}}
|{{sdash}}
|{{included |style=max-width:7em |[[XSUB]]}}<wbr/>{{efn-lr |Needs alterations to the container.<wbr/><ref>{{cite web |type=Project |title=AVIAddXSubs |date=19 April 2014 |url=http://aviaddxsubs.blogspot.com/ |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[DivX, Inc.]] |website=DivX Community Support Portal |type=Knowledge base article |title=How do I play a video file with subtitles in the DivX Player? |date=12 July 2019 |url=https://support.divx.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002223974-How-do-I-play-a-video-file-with-subtitles-in-the-DivX-Player- |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref>}}
|{{included |style=max-width:7em |{{nowrap |SMPTE-TT}}, {{nowrap |EBU-TT}}}}<wbr/><ref name=smpte-tt /><ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union|EBU]] |location=Geneva |type=Recommendation |number=EBU R 133 |title=Transport of subtitles using MXF in an IT-Based Television Production Environment |edition=1st |page=8 |date=9 May 2012 |url=https://tech.ebu.ch/docs/r/r133.pdf |format=PDF |access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref>
|{{included |style=max-width:7em |{{nowrap |[[CTA-708]]}}}}
|{{sdash}}
|}
Support level legend: {{color box|9EFF9E|Full}} {{color box|BFD|Indirect, lossless}} {{color box|FFB|Partial, lossy}} {{color box|FED|Depends on setup}} {{color box|FFC7C7|None}}
{{notelist-lr}}

Some containers only support a restricted set of subtitle formats:
* [[DivX Media Format|DMF]] only supports [[XSUB]].
* [[Enhanced VOB|EVO]] only supports [[HD DVD]] {{abbr |PGS|Presentation Graphic Stream}}.
* [[Flash Video|F4V]] only supports [[MPEG-4 Part 17|TTXT]]. [[SubRip]] and [[WebVTT]] can be converted losslessly to TTXT.<ref name=gpac-subtitling />
* [[Flash Video|FLV]] only supports loading subtitles with [[ActionScript]],<ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Adobe, Inc.]] |type=Manual |number=96-38 |title=FLVPlaybackCaptioning – Adobe ActionScript 3 (AS3) API reference |date=6 December 2018 |url=https://help.adobe.com/en_US/FlashPlatform/reference/actionscript/3/fl/video/FLVPlaybackCaptioning.html |access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref> but this functionality may be restricted to the official [[Adobe Flash Player]]. [[WebVTT]] can be converted losslessly to ActionScript.
* [[.m2ts|M2TS]] only supports [[Blu-ray]] {{abbr |PGS|Presentation Graphic Stream}}. [[VSFilter|VobSub]] can be partially converted to PGS using tools that are not officially related to the container format.<ref name=bdsup2sub>{{cite web |vauthors=Oth V, Juhasz M |website=GitHub |type=Project |title=BDSup2Sub |date=28 December 2013 |url=https://github.com/mjuhasz/BDSup2Sub |access-date=4 August 2019}}</ref>
* [[Ogg]] only supports Ogg Kate and [[Continuous Media Markup Language|CMML]].{{efn |name=ogg-codecs}} [[SubRip]] can be converted losslessly to Ogg Kate.<ref>{{cite book |vauthors=Cherlin E, Wilson H, Gerber J, Lang S |veditors=Hyde A |location=Berlin |title=Ogg Theora Cook Book |date=15 August 2009 |section=Embedding Subtitles |section-url=http://booki.flossmanuals.net/ogg-theora/subtitles/embedding-subtitles |url=http://booki.flossmanuals.net/ogg-theora/ |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref> Ogg Writ<ref name=ogg-writ>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Xiph.Org Foundation]] |type=Specification |title=OggWrit |date=10 November 2007 |url=https://wiki.xiph.org/OggWrit |access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref> is well supported in Ogg in common tools such as OGMtools<ref name=ogmtools /> and [[VLC media player|VLC]], but there's no intention to turn its draft into a fully supported specification. Xiph recommends using Kate for subtitles.<ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=[[Xiph.Org Foundation]] |type=Draft |title=OggWrit |date=10 November 2007 |url=https://wiki.xiph.org/OggWrit |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref> [[MicroDVD]] can be converted to Ogg Writ.
* [[RMVB]] only supports RealText. [[Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language|SMIL]] can be partially converted to RealText.
* [[VOB]] only supports [[VSFilter|VobSub]]. {{abbr |PGS|Presentation Graphic Stream}} can be partially converted to VobSub using tools that are not officially related to the container format.<ref name=bdsup2sub />
* [[WebM]] only supports [[WebVTT]].<ref name=webm-guidelines /> [[SubRip]] can be converted losslessly to WebVTT.

Converting image subtitles to text formats is possible using third-party tools<ref>{{cite web |vauthors=Sonderfeld R |website=GitHub |type=Project |title=VobSub2SRT |date=18 December 2017 |url=https://github.com/ruediger/VobSub2SRT |access-date=4 August 2019}}</ref> but relies on [[optical character recognition]], which is not perfectly accurate and can at best extract basic formatting. Conversion of text to images is possible while preserving content and style. [[Round-trip format conversion]] between text formats may not be possible without losing some formatting features.

== Overhead ==
Multimedia [[Digital container format|containers]] interleave data in media streams to enable efficient playback using fewer computational resources, such as time spent reading from the storage drive, memory needed to buffer selected media streams, and time spent decoding when seeking to a different position in time. In this sense, [[Multiplexing#Video processing|muxing]] [[Overhead (computing)|overhead]] is the control information added by the container to carry interleaved streams. A smaller overhead results in a smaller file when carrying the same streams with the same data. Overhead is affected by the total number of packets and by the size of stream packet headers. In high bitrate encodings, the content payload is usually large enough to make the overhead data relatively insignificant, but in low bitrate encodings, the inefficiency of the overhead can significantly affect the resulting file size if the container uses large stream packet headers or a large number of packets.

In general, [[Matroska]]<ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Matroska |type=Technical report |title=Overhead |date=2008 |url=https://matroska.org/technical/overhead/index.html |access-date=3 August 2019}}</ref> requires the least overhead, followed by [[MPEG-4 Part 14|MP4]], [[Audio Video Interleave|AVI]] and [[Ogg]].<ref>{{cite web |vauthors=Noé A |type=Guide |title=Overhead comparison |date=2006 |url=http://www.alexander-noe.com/video/amg/en_overhead_comparison.html |access-date=3 August 2019}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal |Free and open-source software}}
* [[List of codecs]]
* [[List of open-source codecs]]
* [[Enhanced podcast]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Comparison Of Container Formats}}
[[Category:Multimedia software comparisons|Video container Formats]]
[[Category:Digital container formats|*Comparison]]
[[Category:Comparisons of computer file formats|Video container]]