Glossary
Codec
Also: H.264, AV1, HEVC
A codec compresses and decompresses audio or video so it can be stored or streamed efficiently.
Go deeper
Go deeper
A codec compresses and decompresses audio or video so it can be stored or streamed efficiently. In everyday buying decisions, the useful question is not just what the spec says, but what it changes for comfort, cost, speed, safety, or battery life.
Related terms
Appears in these stories
This term is ready for future stories. The glossary gets there before the jargon does.
Still fuzzy? Ask MAMBO
Send us the bit that still feels unclear and we may turn it into a sharper explanation.