What is MP4?

MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14) is a digital multimedia container format most commonly used to store video and audio, but it can also be used to store other data such as subtitles and still images. It is a standard specified as a part of MPEG-4.

History

MP4 was introduced in 2001 as a successor to the MPEG-4 Part 12 format. It was developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and is based on the QuickTime File Format (QTFF) used by Apple's QuickTime framework.

How it works

MP4 files contain various types of data streams, including video, audio, and metadata. The format uses a hierarchical structure of boxes (also called atoms) to organize the data. Each box contains a specific type of information, such as video frames, audio samples, or metadata about the content.

How to open MP4 files

MP4 files can be opened with most modern media players and devices. Here are some common ways to open MP4 files:

• Windows Media Player
• VLC Media Player
• QuickTime Player (Mac)
• iTunes
• Windows 10 Movies & TV app
• Most web browsers (for streaming)
• Most smartphones and tablets

Tips for working with MP4 files

Here are some useful tips when working with MP4 files:

• MP4 files are widely supported across different platforms and devices
• They offer good compression while maintaining quality
• MP4 files can contain multiple audio tracks and subtitles
• The format supports streaming and progressive download
• MP4 files can be easily shared and uploaded to various platforms

Useful links

For more information about MP4 files, you can visit these resources:

• MPEG-4 Part 14 Specification]
• ISO/IEC 14496-14:2003 Standard
• MP4 File Format Documentation