MP4 file format

MP-4 Part 14
MPEG-4 Part 14 extends over ISO Base Media File Format (MPEG-4 Part 12).[1]
Filename extension
.mp4, .m4a, .m4p, .m4b, .m4r and .m4v[Note 1]
Internet media type
video/mp4
audio/mp4
Type codempg4
Developed byInternational Organization for Standardization

International Electrotechnical Commission
Initial releaseOctober 2001; 23 years ago (2001-10)
Latest release
ISO/IEC 14496-14:2020
January 2020; 4 years ago (2020-01)
Type of formatContainer format
Container forAudio, video and text
Extended fromQuickTime File Format and MPEG-4 Part 12
StandardISO/IEC 14496-14
Open format?No[2][3]
Free format?No[2]

MPEG-4 Part 14, or MP4, is a digital multimedia container format most commonly used to store video and audio, but it can also be used to store other data such as subtitles and still images. Like most modern container formats, it allows streaming over the Internet. The only filename extension for MPEG-4 Part 14 files as defined by the specification is .mp4. MPEG-4 Part 14 (formally ISO/IEC 14496-14:2003) is a standard specified as a part of MPEG-4.

Portable media players are sometimes advertised as "MP4 players", although some are simply MP3 players that also play AMV video or some other video format and do not necessarily play the MPEG-4 Part 14 format.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference 3gpp2-vs-3gpp was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b MPEG-4 File Format, Version 2 (Full draft). Sustainability of Digital Formats. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  3. ^ Information technology – Coding of audio-visual objects – Part 14: MP4 file format (Standard) (3rd ed.). ISO. January 2020. ISO/IEC 14496-14:2020.