Codec
Algorithm for compressing (encoding) and decompressing (decoding) video data.
A codec (coder-decoder) is an algorithm that compresses video data to reduce file size and bandwidth requirements.
H.264 is the most common codec, H.265 (HEVC) provides 50% better compression, and AV1 is an open-source alternative.
Codec choice determines the balance between quality, file size, processing power, and device compatibility.