MKV and MOV explained
Matroska is a container designed to hold essentially anything: any codec, unlimited audio tracks, subtitle tracks, chapters and attachments in one file. It is the format of choice for archiving films with multiple languages.
MOV is Apple's QuickTime container. Structurally it is very close to MP4 — the two share an ancestor — but MOV files often use codecs like ProRes that general-purpose players cannot decode.
- Where MKV files come from
- Media archives, anime and film collections, and high-quality recordings.
- Where MOV is used
- iPhone and Mac screen recordings, and professional video editing.