H.264

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 bit rates 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.

AVC, HEVC, MPEG, Video, Video terms