Everything you need to know about the WebM format

Everything you need to know about the WebM format

WebM

The WebM format was first introduced by Google in 2010. Since this video format is based on the Matroska container, it manages to maintain good video quality.

WebM

As far as audio streams are concerned, it supports Vorbis audio. The WebM format was originally designed for the web, as it supports HTML5. Video streams in this format are compressed using VP8 or VP9 video codecs. WebM is an open source alternative to other video formats (especially MP4) and is specifically designed for use on the web in conjunction with HTML5.

What is the WebM format?

WebM is a container format (with a * .webm file ending) for multimedia files, that is, for video and audio files. This container uses VP8 and VP9 video codecs and Vorbis and Opus audio codecs. First announced at Google I / O 2010, WebM was planned as an alternative to the existing MP4 format with its H.264 codec from the start. While the consumer can use the latter for free when watching videos, developers who want to work with the codec must pay license fees. WebM, on the other hand, is an open source project that everyone can use for free.

The WebP note is a format specifically designed for viewing image files on the Internet. WebM is designed to be used with HTML5. The VP8 and VP9 codecs were designed in such a way that there is a great compression ratio, but a bit of computer power is required to decompress the files. The purpose of this design is to allow streaming video online to virtually any device (such as a desktop, tablet, smartphone, or multimedia device, such as a smart TV).

So it is not surprising that YouTube, part of Google, converts all videos to the WebM format, regardless of the original file format. However, YouTube continues to support H.264 for those who cannot use WebM. While Google strives to promote its format, other major market players such as Apple or Microsoft continue to use formats such as MP4. The main reason for this is patent laws: both development companies are part of the MPEG-LA patent pool, as they hold patents for the codecs used and receive license fees for them. Google is trying to circumvent these patents with WebM.

In the past, this has led to various legal problems, for example in Germany. The problem was in the VP8 codec. Several companies have complained that the codec infringes on their patents. Subsequently, Google reached an agreement with MPEG LA. However, Nokia is not part of the patent group and it believes that its rights have been violated. The initial case, in which the company sued its V8-powered rival HTC, was dismissed by the Mannheim District Court in southern Germany. Fact A codec is a combination of the two terms “encode” and “decode”.

Two algorithms ensure that the video data is first encoded to keep the file size small and then decoded to restore the images and sound correctly. WebM files can be embedded into the user’s own website using an HTML5 video tag. one
WebM Support The WebM format is compatible with Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, Chrome, Chromium and Microsoft Internet Explorer browsers and requires no further installation to play files with this format. Microsoft Edge requires an additional plugin.

Apple Safari can also be upgraded to play WebM, at least for the desktop version. IPhone and iPad users have problems: they need to install additional software to play videos on their devices. Also, WebM video files can be uploaded to YouTube, which is one of the biggest problem for many users using YouTube channel. Also, popular instant messengers like Skype and ooVoo support this format.