MOV and MP3 explained
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.
MP3 is the lossy audio format that made digital music portable. Its patents expired in 2017, which is part of why it remains ubiquitous — anyone can implement it freely.
- Where MOV files come from
- iPhone and Mac screen recordings, and professional video editing.
- Where MP3 is used
- Music libraries, podcasts and voice recordings.