MP4
MPEG-4 Part 14
MIME type: video/mp4
MP4 is the most widely used video container format, capable of storing video, audio, subtitles, and metadata. It supports H.264 and H.265 video codecs and is the standard format for web video, streaming, and mobile devices.
Advantages
- +Universal playback support
- +Efficient H.264/H.265 compression
- +Supports subtitles and multiple audio tracks
- +Standard for web and mobile video
Limitations
- -H.265 has patent licensing issues
- -Editing requires re-encoding
- -Not ideal for lossless archival
- -Large files for high-quality long content
Common Use Cases
Technical Details
MP4 is based on Apple's QuickTime container format and ISO Base Media File Format (ISO 14496-12). It organizes data into 'atoms' (or 'boxes') — ftyp (file type), moov (movie metadata), and mdat (media data). Video is typically encoded with H.264 (AVC) or H.265 (HEVC), audio with AAC or MP3. The container supports multiple tracks, chapters, and timed metadata.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I compress an MP4 video?
Use BriskTool's video compressor to reduce MP4 file sizes. It can re-encode the video at a lower bitrate, reduce resolution, or adjust quality settings — all processing happens in your browser.