What is HEVC
HEVC stands for High-Efficiency Video Coding. This format was developed not so long ago, in 2013, by a group of companies, including Samsung Electronics and others, so it's not a creation of an exact brand.
The HEVC format is considered "improved" AVC (Advanced Video Coding) or H.264, so another name for this standard is H.265. Due to the impressive compression rate, this format can store 8K UHD videos while keeping a relatively small file size.
Recordings with HEVC video extensions take up to two times less memory than AVC analogs of the same quality. These files either feature better visual quality with the same bitrate or keep the same resolution with a lower bitrate.
Bitrate, or bit rate, is a "flow" of data processed by the video. In other words, the lower i is, the fewer resources the file consumes and the faster it works. It may be essential for video streaming, watching a recording on a slightly outdated device, or having a slow Internet connection.
HEVC features
First and foremost, the HEVC codec is used to keep the lowest bitrate with the highest possible quality, which is essential. This standard uses CTU (Coding Tree Unit) technology. Instead of dividing a part into macroblocks, it processes information in smaller chunks, deciding which data can be deleted without affecting the overall video quality.
This standard features a range of enhanced technical parameters, such as coding efficiency, compression ratio, higher resolution support, parallel processing, color spaces, and others. On the other hand, HEVC files may experience compatibility issues on slightly outdated devices or software. In such cases, it may be necessary to install a HEVC video player or convert HEVC to MP4 or MOV.
HEVC benefits
This technology provides numerous benefits, and here are some key advantages of using HEVC.
- Lower bandwidth or bitrate requirements without quality decrease.
- Up to 8K UHD video resolution support.
- High suitability for real-time online streaming with moderate resource exhaustion.
- Enhanced color accuracy due to high dynamic range.
- Fewer transmission errors, which results in higher streaming reliability.
- Enhanced scalability for content creation.
- Advanced motion compensation for better video quality during dynamic scenes.
HEVC usage
HEVC format is mainly used for the following cases:
- High-quality live streaming, especially on mobile devices. This use case includes but is not limited to video phone calls, online conferences, etc.
- Video storing. Due to the high compression rate, such files take less memory.
- Broadcasting and streaming services, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc.
- Virtual Reality and 360-degree videos.
FAQs
What is HEVC?
HEVC is a video codec, in other words, a standard for video compressing and decompressing. The main features of this format are a high compression rate without quality loss and 8K UHD resolution support.
Is HEVC better than MP4?
It depends. In terms of compatibility, no. In almost all the other aspects, such as resource exhaustion, compression rate, and video quality, yes.
How to open the HEVC file format?
Quite a lot of video players, such as VLC Media Player, KMPlayer, and others, are compatible with this format. If you don't want to use them, you can install HEVC codecs manually. If that's also not an option, you can convert a HEVC file to another format, but be aware of the video quality loss.
Final thoughts
HEVC format is not a "magic pill" or a universal extension for all cases. It's one of the best options for online streaming or storing large video files, but when it comes to everyday usage on various platforms and software, MP4 and MOV have better compatibility.
