What is av1?

AV1 (AOMedia Video 1) is a modern video compression format, also called a codec, that reduces the size of video files while keeping quality high. It was created by the Alliance for Open Media, a group of big tech companies, and is designed to be free to use without any licensing fees.

Let's break it down

  • Video codec: a set of rules that tells a computer how to shrink (encode) and expand (decode) video data.
  • Compression: AV1 removes redundant or less‑important visual information so the file becomes smaller.
  • Open and royalty‑free: Anyone can implement AV1 without paying patents or royalties.
  • Built for the internet: It works well for streaming over limited bandwidth, like on mobile networks.

Why does it matter?

Because video makes up most of internet traffic, a more efficient codec means faster loading, less data usage, and lower costs for both providers and viewers. Being royalty‑free also encourages wider adoption and avoids the legal hassles tied to older codecs like H.264 or HEVC.

Where is it used?

  • Major streaming platforms (e.g., YouTube, Netflix) offer AV1 streams for compatible devices.
  • Web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Edge can decode AV1 directly.
  • New smartphones, smart TVs, and streaming sticks are adding hardware support for AV1 playback.
  • Some video‑conferencing tools are experimenting with AV1 to improve call quality on limited bandwidth.

Good things about it

  • Higher compression efficiency: Up to 30 % smaller files than H.264 at similar quality.
  • No licensing fees: Free for developers, content creators, and device manufacturers.
  • Future‑proof: Designed to handle higher resolutions (4K, 8K) and HDR content.
  • Broad industry support: Backed by Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and more.

Not-so-good things

  • Encoding is CPU‑intensive: Creating AV1 videos can take much longer and require powerful hardware.
  • Limited hardware decoding: Older devices may not support AV1, forcing software decoding which can drain battery.
  • Adoption still growing: Not every platform or browser supports it yet, so fallback codecs are often needed.
  • Tooling maturity: Some editing and streaming tools are still catching up with full AV1 feature support.