What is h264?

H.264, also called AVC (Advanced Video Coding), is a standard way of compressing video files so they take up less space while still looking good. It works by analyzing each frame of video and removing parts that are similar to previous frames, then encoding the remaining information efficiently.

Let's break it down

  • Video frames: A video is a series of pictures shown quickly.
  • Compression: H.264 looks for patterns and repeats, then stores only the differences.
  • Key frames (I‑frames): Full pictures saved at intervals.
  • Predictive frames (P‑frames): Store only changes from the previous frame.
  • Bidirectional frames (B‑frames): Store changes using both previous and next frames.
  • Bitrate: Controls how much data is used per second; lower bitrate = smaller file, higher bitrate = better quality.

Why does it matter?

Because raw video is huge (hundreds of megabytes per minute), H.264 makes it possible to stream movies, video calls, and store videos on phones without using massive amounts of bandwidth or storage. It balances quality and file size, which is essential for the internet and mobile devices.

Where is it used?

  • Streaming services (Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime)
  • Video conferencing (Zoom, Skype, Teams)
  • Blu‑ray discs and digital TV broadcasts
  • Mobile phones and tablets for recording and playback
  • Security cameras and dash cams
  • Video editing software and game consoles

Good things about it

  • High visual quality at relatively low bitrates
  • Widely supported on almost every device and platform
  • Efficient for both streaming and storage
  • Mature ecosystem with many tools, codecs, and hardware acceleration
  • Good balance of complexity and performance for real‑time applications

Not-so-good things

  • More computationally demanding to encode than older codecs (e.g., MPEG‑2)
  • Licensing fees for commercial use can be costly
  • Newer codecs (HEVC, AV1) can achieve better compression, making H.264 less optimal for future high‑resolution content
  • Some quality loss is inevitable; it’s not loss‑less
  • Hardware support may be limited on very old devices.