Learn about the WEBM video format through frequently asked questions

What is WebM?

WebM is an open media file format, specifically designed for the web.WebM files include video streams compressed with video codecs VP8 or VP9, ​​audio streams are compressed with Vorbis audio codecs or Opus and WebVTT documents.WebM file structure is built based on Matroska media container (Matroska media container).

WEBM files are supported by most web browsers because this format is sometimes used on HTML5 websites to play online videos.For example, YouTube uses WebM Video file format for all videos on their page, from 360p to other really high resolutions.Wikimedia and Skype are the same.

What is VP8 and VP9?

VP8 and VP9 are highly effective video compression technologies ("codec" videos) developed by WebM Project.Anyone can use these codecs because they are free of copyright.

What is Vorbis and Opus?

Vorbis and Opus are open source audio compression technologies ("codec" sound) developed by Xiph Foundation.Like VP8 and VP9, ​​these technologies are completely free.

Why is WebM important?

An important factor that contributed greatly to the success of the web model is that its core technologies such as HTML, HTTP and TCP / IP are open and allow for freedom of deployment.Although video is also a core aspect to the web experience, unfortunately there is no free and open video format that is comparable to other top-paid options.To solve this problem, WebM Project has been deployed.WebM Project is a widely supported community effort to develop an open web media format (open web media format).

In essence, WebM is built for the web.By testing hundreds of thousands of videos with different characteristics, it was found that VP8 and VP9 are compression technologies that can deliver high-quality videos and effectively regulate processing and tape conditions. Different communication on many devices.The ability to use high bandwidth and less pressure on memory can help publishers save a lot of different costs almost immediately.In addition, the simplicity of VP8 and VP9 also helps developers easily integrate them into the current environment.They also do not require a lot of manual adjustments in the encoder to produce high quality results.

Vorbis / Opus VP8 / VP9 video and audio are the only codecs allowed in a valid .webm file. Why is that?

WebM Project has agreed to identify WebM files in this way because they want to bring the best to users.In fact, users only need good, good quality videos, they don't want to worry about supported codecs or file formats, etc. After much discussion with the manufacturers browse, tool developers and many experts, WebM Project has reached consensus that the number of such defined format limits the confusion for users.If the user has a .webm file, they can be confident that it will be playable in any browser or multimedia player that supports WebM.

How to play WebM files?

Use supported web browsers or media players that support the .WEBM format.You can open WebM files with most popular web browsers such as Google Chrome, Opera, Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer.If you want to play WebM files in the Safari web browser on a Mac, you can do this through the VLC multimedia player, with the VLC plugin dedicated to Mac OS X.

Note: If your web browser does not support opening WebM files, make sure it has been updated to the latest version.Integrated WebM support starts from Chrome v6, Opera 10.60, Firefox 4 and Internet Explorer 9.

Video WebM file format can also be played on Windows Media Player (as long as the DirectShow filter is also installed), MPlayer, KMPlayer and Miro support.

If you're using a Mac, you can use most of the same programs supported by Windows to play WebM files, and there is also a free Elmedia player.

Devices running Android 2.3 from Gingerbread and above can easily open WebM Video files naturally without installing any other special applications.If you need to open WEBM files on your iOS device, you must first convert the file to formats supported on iOS.

Visit the WebM Project page to see a list of media players that work with WebM files.

Where can I watch WebM videos?

WebM has been widely deployed by YouTube and other online video sharing sites.However, most users do not need to care about what specific video formats on these pages do.Instead, new video providers and publishers are the ones who need to pay more attention to the media formats that are specifically WebM.

How can I customize the quality of my WebM video?

You use FFMpeg to encrypt some of your own videos and play them back in Chrome.

How do I build my website in a way that makes use of WebM but still supports other formats?

You can visit HTML5Rocks.com for more detailed information.

Has VP8 / VP9 or WebM changed?

Can not.Features of WebM format can be expanded, but not in a way that breaks backwards compatibility.The bitstream VP8 and VP9 formats are the final format.However, future WebM Project video compression technologies will be released as new codecs.

WebM, VP8 and VP9 are open source, So how to get source code and contribute?

You can access the WebM Project website athttps://www.webmproject.org/code/.

Do I need to be a programmer to be able to use WebM?

You just need to be a programmer when you want to build or support WebM into a software application, or contribute code to WebM Project.

WebM Project is owned by Google or works independently?

WebM is an open source project funded by Google.

Can WebM be used in videoconferencing?

VP8 and VP9 can work well in real-time environments, with low latency like in videoconferencing, and in fact, companies have used them independently for such applications. .

How do I know if I have installed WebM on my computer?

WebM is not something you can install yourself.It is deployed in application software such as web browsers, media players and media plug-ins.

How to convert a WebM file

If you need to use your WebM file with a specific program or device that doesn't support this format, you can convert that WebM video to a supported file format using conversion programs. Free video file.Some of them are offline programs that you have to download, but there are also some free online WEBM converters to choose from.

Programs like Freemake Video Converter and Miro Video Converter can support converting .WEBM files to popular formats like MP4, AVI and a number of other video file formats.Meanwhile, Zamzar.com is a tool that helps convert WebM videos to MP4 online easily (it even allows you to save videos to GIF format).Note that another tool can also help convert WebM files to MP3 and other audio file formats, but all images will be brushed away and you only have audio content left.Also, if you use WebM converters online, remember that you must first upload videos to the conversion site and then download again after the video has been converted.With a large number of videos to convert, it is recommended to use offline conversion tools to save time to upload videos to convert and download to the computer when conversion is complete.

How can I still open a WebM file?

If you still cannot open WebM files even though you have used the above methods, it is possible that your file is not actually in WebM format.Some types offiles witha look-through extension look very similar to the .WEBM file extension, so you should also double-check the standard file extension.

For example, WEM files are written almost like WEBM files but in fact WEM is WWise's encrypted media files, and can be opened by Audiokinetic WWise.Neither the program nor the format of these two files are the same and therefore they will not be compatible with the same file openers and converters.

WEB files are also a similar case, although there is a way to write similar to WEBM but actually WEB is Web Xara document files used by Xara Designer Pro software of Magix and has nothing to do with WEBM .In addition, there are cases of WEBP files (WEBP image files used by Google Chrome and some other programs), and EBM files (they are EXTRA! Or Embla Recording files, used with Embla RemLogic) .

Above are some basic information about WebM files, hopefully these information can help you!

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