WebM and AVI explained
WebM is an open, royalty-free container built for the web, holding VP8/VP9 or AV1 video with Vorbis or Opus audio. It exists specifically so browsers can ship video support without patent licensing.
AVI is a Microsoft container from 1992. It predates modern video compression and lacks features taken for granted today, such as proper support for variable frame rates and modern codec metadata.
- Where WebM files come from
- Web video, and exports from browser-based recording tools.
- Where AVI is used
- Old camcorders, legacy Windows software and archived downloads.