What is H.264 (AVC)?
H.264, also known as MPEG-4 Part 10, Advanced Video Coding (MPEG-4 AVC), is a block-oriented motion-compensation-based video compression standard. It is by far the most commonly used format for the recording, compression, and distribution of video content.
H.264 is known for being one of the video encoding standards for Blu-ray Discs; all Blu-ray Disc players must be able to decode H.264. It is also widely used by streaming internet sources, such as YouTube, Vimeo, Netflix, and the iTunes Store, web software such as the Adobe Flash Player and Microsoft Silverlight, and also various HDTV broadcasts over terrestrial (ATSC, ISDB-T, DVB-T or DVB-T2), cable (DVB-C), and satellite (DVB-S or DVB-S2).
H.264 vs H.265: Quick Comparison
| Feature | H.264 (AVC) | H.265 (HEVC) |
|---|---|---|
| Compression Efficiency | Standard | ~50% Better |
| Max Resolution | 4K (4096Γ2304) | 8K (8192Γ4320) |
| File Size (Same Quality) | Larger | Smaller |
| Encoding Complexity | Low (Fast) | High (Slow) |
| Compatibility | Universal | Modern Devices |