What is HEVC aka H.265?
HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Coding), also known as H.265, is a video compression standard developed by the Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC), a partnership between the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)/International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
HEVC builds upon the earlier H.264/AVC (Advanced Video Coding) standard and offers significant improvements in video compression efficiency. Here are some key features and characteristics of HEVC:
1. Improved Compression Efficiency: HEVC provides higher compression efficiency compared to previous video codecs. It achieves this by employing advanced coding techniques such as enhanced motion compensation, improved prediction modes, and more efficient entropy coding. As a result, HEVC can deliver the same video quality as H.264 but with a lower bitrate, reducing file sizes and bandwidth requirements.
2. Support for Higher Resolutions: HEVC has better support for higher resolutions, including 4K Ultra HD and even 8K Ultra HD video. It enables the delivery of high-resolution video content with improved visual quality and detail.
3. Wide Device Compatibility: HEVC has gained broader device support over time, with many modern devices, such as smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and streaming media players, incorporating hardware and software decoding capabilities for HEVC-encoded videos. This enables efficient playback and streaming of HEVC content on a variety of devices.
4. Flexible Bitrate Adaptation: HEVC allows for adaptive bitrate streaming, similar to H.264. By creating multiple versions of the same video at different bitrates and resolutions, adaptive streaming protocols can dynamically adjust the video quality based on network conditions and device capabilities.
5. Applications and Industry Adoption: HEVC is used in various applications, including video streaming services, video-on-demand platforms, video conferencing systems, digital television broadcasting, and more. Its improved compression efficiency and support for higher resolutions make it well-suited for delivering high-quality video content in various domains.
6. Licensing Considerations: HEVC is subject to patent licensing, which means that organizations utilizing HEVC may need to obtain appropriate licenses to ensure legal compliance and royalty payments to the patent holders.
HEVC represents a significant advancement in video compression technology, offering improved compression efficiency and better support for higher resolutions. Its adoption has facilitated the delivery of high-quality video content while optimizing bandwidth usage and storage requirements.
