.movvideo
MOV
Apple QuickTime Movie
MIME type: video/quicktime
MOV is Apple's video container format used by QuickTime and iPhones. It can contain video, audio, subtitles, and metadata using various codecs including H.264, H.265/HEVC, and ProRes.
Advantages
- +High quality video support
- +Multiple tracks (video, audio, subtitles)
- +ProRes support for professional editing
- +Native Apple ecosystem support
Limitations
- -Large file sizes
- -Limited compatibility on non-Apple platforms
- -Not ideal for web streaming
- -Can be slow to load
Common Use Cases
iPhone video recordingsProfessional video editing (ProRes)QuickTime playbackVideo production workflows
Technical Details
MOV uses Apple's QuickTime container format (QTFF), which inspired the ISO Base Media File Format (ISOBMFF) used by MP4. It stores media data in atoms (also called boxes). Common codecs: H.264, HEVC, ProRes, AAC.
Frequently Asked Questions
MOV vs MP4 — what's the difference?
MOV and MP4 are very similar container formats. MOV is Apple's version, MP4 is the international standard based on it. MP4 is more universally compatible; MOV may offer better support for ProRes and Apple-specific features.