Codec

Codec: Software solution that compresses and decompresses an audio or video file for digital playback. Often proprietary, the goal of a particular codec is to compress a recording in order to make the file size smaller while simultaneously retaining as much quality as possible. An “efficient codec” is a codec that excels at lowering file sizes and minimizing perceived loss of information. Codecs are not file formats. Usually a codec such as H.264 for video is delivered in a container format such as a .mov. See Compression [ Audio Glossary ] [ Video Glossary ]