What is FLV?

FLV (Flash Video) is a container file format used to deliver video content over the internet. It was developed by Macromedia (now Adobe) and was widely used for streaming video on the web, particularly with Adobe Flash Player.

History

FLV was introduced by Macromedia in 2002 as part of the Flash platform. It became popular for web video streaming due to its efficient compression and streaming capabilities, though its usage has declined with the phasing out of Flash Player.

How it works

FLV files use a simple structure to store video and audio data. The format supports various codecs, including H.264 for video and AAC for audio. FLV files are designed for streaming, allowing playback to begin before the entire file is downloaded.

How to open FLV files

FLV files can be opened with various media players and web browsers. Here are some common ways to open FLV files:

• VLC Media Player
• Media Player Classic
• PotPlayer
• Most modern web browsers
• Many media players on mobile devices
• Adobe Flash Player (legacy)

Tips for working with FLV files

Here are some useful tips when working with FLV files:

• FLV files are optimized for streaming
• They offer good compression for web delivery
• The format is widely supported in media players
• FLV files can be easily converted to other formats
• They are less common now due to the decline of Flash

Useful links

For more information about FLV files, you can visit these resources:

• Adobe Flash Video Documentation
• FLV File Format Specification
• Adobe Developer Documentation