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Codec vs Container - What's the difference?

codec | container |

In computing terms the difference between codec and container

is that codec is a device or program capable of performing transformations on a data stream or signal while container is a file format that can hold various types of data.

codec

English

Noun

(en noun) (wikipedia codec)
  • (computing) A device or program capable of performing transformations on a data stream or signal.
  • Audio and video codecs are important in making multimedia files small enough to distribute and simple to play back.

    container

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An item in which objects, materials or data can be stored or transported.
  • A very large, typically metal, box used for transporting goods (also cargo container).
  • (by extension) someone who holds people in their seats or in a (reasonably) calm state.
  • (computing) A file format that can hold various types of data.
  • * 2011 , Cory Altheide, Harlan Carvey, Digital Forensics with Open Source Tools (page 187)
  • As the MP4 container can store audio, video, or both, the M4A naming and file extension is used to hint that this MP4 container holds solely audio information.
  • (computing, GUI) Any user interface component that can hold further (child) components.
  • Synonyms

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