A video file format is a standard for encoding digital video, audio and some auxiliary information into a file. In contrast to audio and image formats, most video file formats allow a variety of codecs, both audio and video, to be used.

Auxiliary information often includes:

• data required for correct synchronization between audio and video
• subtitles

Popular video file formats and codecs that can be used with them are (some of them can be also used with only audio):

• AVI
  • all MPEG-4 (DivX, XviD, FFmpeg, etc..) through hacks of file format
  • Indeo
  • Cinepak
  • Windows Media
• Matroska
  • all AVI, no hacks
  • RealVideo
• Ogg
• OGM
  • all AVI, no hacks
• ASF
  • Windows Media
• WMV
  • Windows Media
• MPEG-1 and MPEG-2
• MP4 (MPEG4)
  • only MPEG-4 content
• QuickTime (MOV)
  • Sorenson
  • Cinepak
• RealMedia (RM)
  • RealVideo

Professional video file formats:

• MXF

See also

• Video codecs
• Audio codecs