MPEG-4 vs MP4 Difference Explained for Beginners: You'll Be Shocked to Learn the Facts

Published: 26 June 2024
on channel: Find Out Tech
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0:00 Introduction: MPEG-4 vs MP4 difference explained
0:24 MPEG-4 and MP4 not same
1:24 MPEG-4 explained
2:08 MP4 explained
2:50 MPEG-4 vs MP4 summary

This video explains the MPEG-4 vs MP4 difference for beginners.

MPEG-4 and MP4 do not mean the same thing.

MP4 is not the short form for MPEG-4 as many think.

They are entirely two different things.

This video will explain the main differences between the two.

MPEG-4 is a video codec.

A codec is the short form for compression and decompression.

If you have a large video file you can use the MPEG-4 codec to compress it to a smaller size.

MP4 is not a compression format.

It is a video container format.

You can store various types of multimedia files in a video container.

For example, you can store video, audio, subtitles and even images. All of these files combine to produce a single multimedia file.

So, MP4 is similar to other container formats like MOV, AVI and MKV, to mention a few.

So, remember this.

MPEG-4 is for compression.

MP4 is for storage, as it's a container.

Let's learn more about MPEG-4.

MPEG-4 is a compression standard introduced by the Moving Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) in
1999.

There are different parts of MPEG-4.

Wikipedia lists 33 MPEG-4 parts.

Each dictates how video and audio should be compressed.

For example, MPEG-4 part 2 consists of the X vid codec for video.

MPEG-4 part 3 is for AAC audio codec.

MPEG-4 Part 10 uses the H.264 video codec.

The MPEG-4 codec can be used in many different types of video containers like MP4, MOV, MKV and AVI.

MP4, as has been explained earlier is a container or wrapper format.

As a container format, it supports the storage of video codecs, audio, subtitles, images, 3D graphics, menus, and user interactivity features.

It is a universal format supported by almost any modern device.

If you have an MP4 file, you can play it over consumer electronic devices like HDTVs, smartphones and portable media players.

MP4 is also a supported format in almost all software media players.

MP4 is also used in online video streaming in platforms like YouTube and Facebook.

It is also a supported media format in modern web browsers.

Think of the difference like this:

MPEG-4 is a set of instructions, much like a recipe, for compressing media.

MP4 is a specific type of container, like a container, that can hold media compressed with MPEG-4 or other codecs.

Here's a breakdown of the key differences:

MPEG-4 defines how to compress media, while MP4 is a way to store compressed media files.

MPEG-4 can be used with different container formats, not just MP4.

MP4 files typically use MPEG-4 compression, but not always.

MP4 is widely supported by devices and software because it's a standardized format.

MPEG-4 encoded video might need specific software to play, depending on the codec used.

In short, MP4 is a more specific type of file that often uses MPEG-4 compression, but not always.

MP4 is the more common container format you'll encounter for videos and audio.

By now you should be clear about the MPEG-4 vs MP4.difference.


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