Compression

Video compression is the process of reducing a video file's size by encoding its data more efficiently. Uncompressed video is enormous: one second of 4K footage at 60fps can easily exceed 1GB. Compression algorithms — implemented through codecs like H.264, H.265/HEVC, AV1, and ProRes — analyze the video data and discard or approximate information the viewer is unlikely to notice, while preserving what matters most for perceived quality. The result is files that are orders of magnitude smaller than uncompressed video, making distribution, streaming, and storage practical at scale.

Video compression works in two main ways: spatial compression (reducing data within a single frame, similar to how JPEG compresses images) and temporal compression (comparing consecutive frames and storing only the differences between them, rather than full frame data every time). Most modern codecs use both. A high-motion scene requires more data to encode cleanly because frames change dramatically from one to the next. A static shot of a person against a plain background compresses very efficiently because most pixels don't change at all between frames.

The trade-off in compression is always quality versus file size, controlled primarily by the bitrate setting. A higher bitrate means more data per second of video, which preserves more quality — especially in complex motion or fine detail — but produces a larger file. A lower bitrate compresses more aggressively, reducing quality but improving streaming performance and storage efficiency. For B2B video distribution, H.264 at a bitrate appropriate for the target resolution (typically 8–16 Mbps for 1080p) balances compatibility, quality, and delivery performance for most use cases. H.265 offers better quality at the same bitrate, but requires more computing power to encode and isn't universally supported by older devices.