People are used to the fact that their computers or smartphones and tablets can play any video format. However, few people realize that video playback is a rather complicated process that uses special codecs. Many users wonder what the AV1 codec is and why they need it when they encounter it.

Why do you need an AV1 codec

Many modern users have a rather poor understanding of how various programs and their devices work. In the past, when personal computers first started to appear in the lives of ordinary people, their users had to study their structure and functionality much longer and deeper.

Today, however, such a need is no longer necessary. Modern operating systems and computers are designed to be as user-friendly as possible. Today people don’t have to study the functionality of different programs and operating systems, there are apps where you can do everything literally in a couple of clicks.

So when people are confronted with unfamiliar terms it can cause them some confusion. For example, most people are constantly playing different videos or watching streaming online, but few people know what a codec is and why it’s needed.

Codec is a special device or program that performs the functions of data or signal conversion. This means that the data is first encoded with a special codec and then the same codec is used to decode and use it. This includes video files or video streams. As a matter of fact, video is a data stream that is specially encoded into different types of files.

That is why many users when they encounter the AV1 codec don’t understand why it is used and what files it is used for.

What the AV1 codec is for

AV1 is a codec that allows you to compress a huge amount of data without reducing video quality. This means that it can be a big advantage for future high frame rate video formats, 8K resolution, HDR standards, and audio requirements.

This means that the most tangible advantage of this codec is for streaming services such as Netflix, Disney Plus, or Hulu.

In addition to the AB1 codec being a universal compression standard, this allows it to be used for many other apps, such as video games, real-time apps such as video conferencing, or any other programs where video streams are used.

AV1 is planned to be the successor to the HEVC (H.265) format, which is currently used for 4K HDR video. This format can currently be found on platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney Plus, and Netflix.

AV1 was developed by the Alliance for Open Media, which counts Amazon, Apple, ARM, Facebook, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Mozilla, Netflix, Nvidia, and Samsung.

What are the advantages of the AV1 codec

Among the advantages of the AV1 codec, one can first of all point out the fact that this codec doesn’t require royalties. This means that the AV1 codec is royalty-free. It means that platforms that will use this codec can avoid huge royalty payments unlike, for example, the HEVC codec.

Besides, the AV1 codec compresses data about 30% more efficiently than its direct competitors. In the future, this will provide additional space for inserting additional audio and video standards into the files.

Among the main disadvantages are significantly longer video encoding time. In some cases, AV1 encodes up to 10 times longer than its competitors.

However, when this problem will be solved by developers, most likely this codec will become one of the most popular and used in the world.