MP4 and MOV explained
MP4 is a container, not a codec. It usually holds H.264 video and AAC audio, and that specific combination is the closest thing the internet has to a universal video format.
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 MP4 files come from
- Phone cameras, screen recorders, and every video streaming platform.
- Where MOV is used
- iPhone and Mac screen recordings, and professional video editing.