Introduction
High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) is a video compression standard that was developed to provide high-quality video with a smaller file size. This standard was created by the Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC) and is also known as H.265. HEVC is the successor to the widely used Advanced Video Coding (AVC) or H.264 standard.
HEVC vs AVC
HEVC has several advantages over AVC. One of the main advantages is that it can provide the same video quality as AVC but with a much smaller file size. This means that HEVC can provide high-quality video even at low bitrates. Another advantage of HEVC is that it supports resolutions up to 8192×4320, which is four times the resolution of 1080p. HEVC also supports 10-bit and 12-bit color depths, which provides more color information than the 8-bit color depth supported by AVC.
How HEVC Works
HEVC uses several techniques to compress video. One of the main techniques is called intra prediction, which predicts the value of a pixel based on the values of neighboring pixels. HEVC also uses inter prediction, which predicts the value of a pixel based on the values of pixels in a previous or future frame. HEVC also uses transform coding, which transforms the video signal into a frequency domain representation. This allows for better compression of the video signal.
Benefits of HEVC
HEVC has several benefits over other video compression standards. One of the main benefits is that it provides higher quality video at lower bitrates. This means that video can be streamed over the internet with less bandwidth. HEVC also provides support for higher resolutions and color depths, which provides more color information and detail in the video. Another benefit of HEVC is that it provides better compression for video with high motion, such as sports or action movies.
Applications of HEVC
HEVC is used in a variety of applications, including streaming video services, video conferencing, and broadcasting. HEVC is also used in devices such as smartphones, tablets, and televisions. HEVC is becoming more popular as more devices and services adopt the standard. HEVC is also being used in virtual reality and augmented reality applications, which require high-quality video with low latency.
HEVC Licensing
HEVC is a patented technology, which means that companies must pay licensing fees to use the standard. This has led to some controversy and criticism of the standard. Some companies have chosen to use alternative video compression standards to avoid paying licensing fees. However, HEVC is still widely used and is expected to become more popular in the future.
Conclusion
HEVC is a video compression standard that provides high-quality video with a smaller file size. HEVC has several advantages over other video compression standards, including higher quality video at lower bitrates, support for higher resolutions and color depths, and better compression for high-motion video. HEVC is used in a variety of applications, including streaming video services, video conferencing, and broadcasting. HEVC is a patented technology that requires licensing fees to use, but it is still widely used and is expected to become more popular in the future.