[Explained] Most Common Video File Formats & Extensions

Read time: 8 minutes

Summary: In this digital age, videos are the new sources of information that we all rely on. The education, training, and answers to day-to-day queries are all available through videos on various platforms. So, we are here to briefly cover the basics of a video and discuss the most common video file formats. This article also suggests using the Kernel Video Repair tool to fix all your issues from common video file types.

Video files are electronic way of capturing or broadcasting moving visual images. In 2026, video formats are more important than ever, as they are streaming all over the internet, be it for educational, business, or entertainment purposes.

As significance and usage of videos increase, understanding video file formats is crucial for creators, marketers, and others as there are so many video file formats available out there. And picking the right format becomes a necessity to make sure your content looks good and loads fast.

In this blog, we will discuss about some of the most common video file formats, their attributes, and which video format is the best to work with.

Prominent features and attributes of video file

When someone creates a video, it is necessary to consider some factors when deciding the format. There are some key features or attributes that must be in a video file, and that can vary based on your video format. The below attributes define the quality of a video:

Frame rate: The number of frames captured per second (fps). A 24 fps is a decent rate for shooting movies, other TV shows, etc. Moving to a higher frame rate gives more fluidity to the video but also costs you the storage space.
Aspect ratio: This is the ratio of width to the height of the video. An aspect ratio is decided based on the common screen size on which the viewer will watch the video.
Bit rate: Bit rate is defined as the data transferred per second. It is measured in bits per second. This attribute comes more into play when you are viewing or broadcasting your video online. A higher bit rate would require a high-speed connection for the buffer less experience.
Resolution: Video resolution is the number of pixels in a single video frame, such as 480, 720, 1080, 4K, etc. It becomes more important if the display size increases. The higher the resolution, the sharper the frame.

Now let’s move forward and know about the most common video extensions in detail.

Top 10 most common video file formats & extensions

Now, the time has come to see the most popular and standard format for a video file. We’ve listed some of the most common video formats below with their descriptions. Go through each of them and choose the best video file format according to your requirements:

1. MP4 file format

MP4 has probably been the most used video file format for over a decade. It was developed by Apple and gained popularity with the iTunes player. MP4 containers can use H.264, H.265, and MPEG-4 codecs. It is also supported by streaming sites such as YouTube, Facebook, etc.

Pros

MP4 video files are compatible with all media players.
It delivers high-quality video in a relatively smaller size.
The video quality doesn’t deteriorate even after multiple editing and file saving.

Cons

Can encounter playback issues with some devices.
Video files may become corrupted or crash while editing.

2. MOV file format

MOV is another most common video file format developed by Apple Inc. It was the format used by Apple’s Quicktime video player. This format was designed to deliver high-quality videos. However, after the Quicktime player for Windows was released, the MOV format has become more than just an Apple-compatible video file format.

Pros

It is a user-friendly video file format.
Offers a high-standard video and doesn’t compromise quality.

Cons

MOV format files are generally larger than those in MP4.
Not all video players can play MOV video file format.

3. AVI file format

AVI stands for Audio Video Interleave. It is one of the oldest video file formats that is still popular. AVI files support a wide range of codecs, making them popular. As this format was developed in the 90s, it wasn’t aimed at internet video transmission.

Pros

AVI is a better option if you want to store the file on your storage and don’t want to compromise the quality of the video.
No additional hardware device is required to access AVI video files.

Cons

This format is not preferred for internet upload or streaming purposes.
AVI files are larger than new and common video file types.

4. FLV file format

Flash video format, popularly known as FLV, is another very commonly used video format. FLV video format is so popular that it can be played with Adobe Flash Player. It supports H.264 video codec and HE-AAC audio compression format. However, due to some limitations with the H.24 format, Adobe recommends using the F4V format with the H.264 compression format.

Pros

Easy to play FLV video files in web browsers and video players.
It can be embedded or added as a plugin for any web browser.
Provides best quality even in small size.

Cons

Its quality gets degraded after converting into another format.
It can spread malware or viruses, which can compromise device security.

5. MKV file format

MKV is an open-source video format. It was developed by Matroska, a non-profit organization based in France. Being open source makes this video format common and popular among emerging content creators. It is similar to other file formats like MP4 and AVI.

Pros

MKV video format holds infinite video, audio, pictures, or subtitle tracks in one file.
Data remains same while compressing the video file.

Cons

MKV files are very large in size, occupying more storage space.
Few video players do not support MKV video format.

6. WMV file format

WMV is short for Windows Media Video. WMV is both a codec format and also a video file container. Microsoft developed WMV as part of the Windows Media Framework. This format was initially created to be hosted on streaming websites and applications on the internet.

Pros

WMV video files are of very small sizes compared to other video formats.
WMV formats are popularly used to share videos through emails or on other platforms.

Cons

This video file format is only compatible with Windows.OS
The image quality can be lost after compression.

7. AVCHD file format

Developed jointly by Sony and Panasonic in 2006, the AVCHD format aims at recording high-definition videos using digital camcorders. Its full-form Advanced Video Coding High Definition (AVCHD) suggests the same. It is the default format for various camcorders introduced by Sony and Panasonic.

Pros

AVCHD video format also supports 3-D videos.
This format is favorable for professional videographers as it can store multiple photos, video, subtitles, slideshow, etc. in a single video file.

Cons

Particularly designed for Sony and Panasonic cameras.
Not all media players support AVCHD video files.

8. WEBM file format

Google originally sponsored WebM format to provide a new format that can be used over the internet and as an alternative to HTML5 videos. However, it is supported as a default without the requirement of downloading additional codecs by all reputed video players such as VLC, K-player, MPlayer, etc.

Pros

WEBM video files are compatible with major web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera Mini, etc.
This format is easy to compress and decompress in high-quality and takes less time to load.

Cons

Not available for mobile devices as it requires HTML.
Many codes are not compatible and have limited hardware support.

9. MPEG-4 file format

MPEG-4 also known as Moving Pictures Experts Group-4, is a comparatively older codec commonly used in older systems and video file formats. Online streaming platforms still favor it. However, it has lost popularity to H.264 and H.265 codec formats.

Pros

This video format is best for streaming, downloading, and distribution.
It takes less space because of its smaller size.

Cons

Video quality gets compromised after editing.
MPEG-4 is not compatible with all the devices.

10. MTS file format

MTS (MPEG Transport Stream) is a high-definition and another common video file formats used by Panasonic and Sony AVCHD (Advanced Video Coding High Definition) cameras for recording videos (720P to 1080 HD resolution).

Pros

Widely used to create HD videos.
MTS video file supports 3 D videos.

Cons

It is hard to develop and edit.
Sometimes, there are delays between sound and audio.

Note: The last two items on our list are popular codecs instead of containers to choose the most common video file format.

Things to consider while choosing a video format

There are multiple factors that users should consider while choosing a video file format. Here are some of them:

Compatibility: Choose the format by keeping in mind where the video file is going to be played.
Video quality: High-resolution videos and frame rates demand less compression. Choosing a format with smart compression is ideal.
Compression: High compression is required for smaller file size and to stream video faster. Selecting a format with good balance is recommended.
Editing performance: Check which video formats your editing application supports and choose wisely as per that.
Intended user case: Access the primary purpose of the video, then select the format that fulfils your requirements.

Conclusion

In this blog, we explained the basics of a video file and the key attributes that decide the quality of a video. Also, we’ve covered the most common video file extensions to help you choose the proper format for your video. In case the video file of any format gets corrupted/damaged or inaccessible under any circumstances, use only professional Kernel Video Repair. It is a expert recommended video repair tool that can quickly repair corrupt video files of all common video file formats. Download today and make your video accessible and healthy.

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