What Is an MP4 File? MPEG-4 Part 14, or MP4, is a digital multimedia container format most commonly used to store video and audio, but it can also be used to store other data such as subtitles and still images. MP4 is strictly speaking not a video format—it is a container format. It does not have a native method of processing media, so it relies on codecs. A media player must support these codecs to play an MP4 file. MP4 is the most common, most popular video format and universally compatible and offers high compression rates while maintaining good image quality. MP4 files were created under the ISO/IEC 14496-12: 2004 standard by the ISO/IEC and Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG). MP4 files are stored with the .mp4 extension. MP4s are a compressed format—the video file has been shrunk so it uses up less space on your PC or phone, or when it is streamed on the Internet. This makes MP4 a portable and web-friendly video format. It is used in various applications, including streaming video, video conferencing, and editing. While MP4 files can play audio, they shouldn't be confused with M4A or MP3, as these are file formats that only contain audio. MP4 Pros: • It can be used for both lossy and lossless compression. • This file format is universally supported by most digital devices and media players. It is compatible with both Windows and iOs and can be used on popular devices like Xbox 360, television sets and DVD players. • Allows embedding metadata such as subtitles, multiple audio tracks, and chapter information. • Provides strong compression and has a relatively small file size, making it highly suitable for video streaming and large-scale video storage. • Provides several variants including .m4a for files that only contain audio, and .m4v for visual bitstreams. • Ideal for sharing videos online, streaming, and playing on a diverse range of devices. Cons: • The MP4 file format popularity and ease of access has resulted in an ease of piracy that could be concerning to creators and publishers. • MP4 files can be less editable compared to some other formats like AVI. • Playback and editing of MP4 files requires significant processing power, because a file can contain several types of multimedia content and metadata. • Excessive compression may lead to noticeable quality degradation.