H.264

Updated: 09/15/2024 by Computer Hope

H.264 (also called H.264/MPEG-4 AVC (Advanced Video Coding)) is a video compression standard commonly used for recording, compressing, and distributing high-definition video up to 8K resolution. The standard was completed in May 2003 as a first draft version. The goal of H.264 was to create a standard for high-quality video with lower bitrates than other standards, including MPEG-2, H.263, and MPEG-4 part 2.

The H.264 standard is used in many programs, including Internet video streaming and Digital Cinema applications. Blu-ray and HD DVD use H.264 as one of the mandatory video compression formats. It was approved for broadcast HDTV (High-Definition TeleVision) in July 2008 by the ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee), although it is not yet widely used for ATSC broadcasts.

AAC, AVC, Codec, HEVC, Lossy, MPEG, Video, Video terms