Almost every web user has encountered watching and downloading video files. To avoid getting confused about the means of playback, it is useful to pay attention to the video format. The most common are avi and mp4.

What is avi?

This format is a media container. It can contain both audio and video data. Thanks to a unique data compression system, this file's image and sound are played synchronously. At the same time, avi supports multi-stream audio and video files.

Avi has a high-quality image thanks to the high resolution, so it is used on high-powered media. This option is suitable for home DVDs, or you can open avi on mac, and it also opens with special programs on a Windows computer.

Usually, avi files are readable on all PCs since Windows has a built-in media player that supports this format.

 Advantages of avi:

• high picture and sound quality;
• supports multi-stream audio and video files;
• readable by almost all players.

This is a fairly old format, which was first used in the windows system back in 1992. In the present time, it has changed, and it retains its popularity and advantages.

What is mp4?

It is largely familiar from the famous video hosting site Youtube. Mp4 is also a format for playing synchronous video and audio. It is also designed to display static pictures and subtitles. It does not require a powerful device processor to play, so it is well-supported by simple smartphone players.

This format has some similarities with the previous one:

• The same MPEG-4 compression method;
• The ability to play audio and video in sync;
• Multithreading audio and video support;
• Supported by many players.

At the same time, the formats under consideration also have some differences.

What are the differences?

The main differences are as follows:

• Quality. The first option plays better sound and picture quality.
• A different method of decoding.
• The additional weight of the file. Mp4 weighs less, so it is good for phones.

To summarize, avi is a high-weight file with quality pictures and audio, more suitable for home DVDs and PC.

Mp4 is a lightweight file that does not require a lot of processing power to play, suitable for watching videos in a browser and on smartphones.