.mp4 File — MPEG-4 Part 14

MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14) is the most widely used video container format, standardized by ISO as part of the MPEG-4 specification. MP4 files can contain multiple streams of video, audio, subtitles, and metadata. Video is most commonly encoded with H.264/AVC or H.265/HEVC codecs, while audio typically uses AAC, though MP4 supports numerous other codecs. The container is based on Apple's QuickTime MOV format and the ISO Base Media File Format. MP4's versatility and broad compatibility have made it the default video format for web streaming, social media, mobile devices, and digital distribution. The format supports progressive download and streaming (HTTP Live Streaming uses fragmented MP4), chapter markers, multiple audio tracks, subtitle tracks, 3D content, and 360-degree video metadata. MP4 is the standard output format for most video editing software and the required format for most video platforms including YouTube, Vimeo, and social media sites. Hardware acceleration for MP4 playback is built into virtually all modern CPUs, GPUs, and mobile processors.