Enveu Media & OTT Glossary
A practical knowledge base for OTT platforms, streaming tech, monetization, playback, analytics, DRM, FAST, and media operations. Use A–Z to browse or search to jump to a term.
A practical knowledge base for OTT platforms, streaming tech, monetization, playback, analytics, DRM, FAST, and media operations. Use A–Z to browse or search to jump to a term.
A codec compresses and decompresses video for streaming and playback.
A codec is a software or hardware technology used to compress video for transmission and then decompress it for playback. In video streaming, codecs make it possible to deliver high-quality video efficiently over the internet.
Codecs directly impact video quality, bandwidth consumption, device compatibility, and delivery costs. Choosing the right codec helps OTT platforms balance playback performance, infrastructure expenses, and support across different devices and networks.
During encoding, a codec analyzes video frames and removes redundant visual information to reduce file size. During playback, the video player decodes the stream back into viewable video, often switching between multiple encoded versions through adaptive bitrate streaming.
Codecs are used across live streaming, video-on-demand, FAST channels, and cloud playout workflows. Common codecs such as H.264, H.265, and AV1 are selected based on content type, target devices, and performance requirements.