Flash Video

Flash Video
Filename extension	.flv, .fla, .f4v, .f4a, .f4b, .f4p
Internet media type	video/x-flv, video/mp4, audio/mp4
Developed by	Adobe Systems (originally developed by Macromedia)
Initial release	FLV: 10 September 2003; F4V: 3 December 2007
Latest release	10.1.2.01; August 2010
Type of format	Container format
Container for	Audio, video, text, data
Extended from	FLV: SWF; F4V: MPEG-4 Part 12
Open format?	Yes
Free format?	No

Flash Video is a container file format used to deliver digital video content (e.g., TV shows, movies, etc.) over the Internet using Adobe Flash Player version 6 and newer. Flash Video content may also be embedded within SWF files. There are two different Flash Video file formats: FLV and F4V. The audio and video data within FLV files are encoded in the same way as SWF files. The F4V file format is based on the ISO base media file format, starting with Flash Player 9 update 3.^[1]^[2] Both formats are supported in Adobe Flash Player and developed by Adobe Systems. FLV was originally developed by Macromedia. In the early 2000s, Flash Video was the de facto standard for web-based streaming video (over RTMP). Users include Hulu, VEVO, Yahoo! Video, metacafe, Reuters.com, and many other news providers.

Flash Video FLV files usually contain material encoded with codecs following the Sorenson Spark or VP6 video compression formats. As of 2010^[update] public releases of Flash Player (collaboration between Adobe Systems and MainConcept) also support H.264 video and HE-AAC audio.^[3] All of these compression formats are restricted by patents. Flash Video is viewable on most operating systems via the Adobe Flash Player and web browser plugin or one of several third-party programs. Apple's iOS devices, along with almost all other mobile devices, do not support the Flash Player plugin and so require other delivery methods such as provided by the Adobe Flash Media Server.^[4]

^ Cite error: The named reference FLV-F4V was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "What is the difference between Flash Video (FLV), F4V and H.264". Google Knol. 7 December 2008. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
^ "Flash H.264". MainConcept. Archived from the original on 18 November 2010. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
^ Adobe Flash Media Server

[FLV-F4V-1] Cite error: The named reference FLV-F4V was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[2] "What is the difference between Flash Video (FLV), F4V and H.264". Google Knol. 7 December 2008. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2009.

[3] "Flash H.264". MainConcept. Archived from the original on 18 November 2010. Retrieved 24 September 2010.

[4] Adobe Flash Media Server

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