codec
Technology & Computing abbreviation · File Format
| Stands for | Coder-decoder |
|---|---|
| Categories | Technology & Computing |
codec stands for Coder-decoder, a file format abbreviation.
Software or hardware that compresses (encodes) audio or video for storage or transmission and decompresses (decodes) it for playback. H.264, HEVC, AV1, AAC and MP3 are codecs; MP4 and MKV are containers that hold codec streams.
Example: The file plays sound but no picture because the PC lacks the right video codec.
Usage notes
The word blends coder and decoder, and is sometimes explained as compressor-decompressor. Confusing codecs with containers causes many "it won't play" problems: two MP4 files may use different codecs. In the 2000s, Windows users installed "codec packs" such as K-Lite to play downloaded videos. Hardware codecs in GPUs and phones save battery during playback and recording.