The History of the H.264 Video Format

H.264, also known as MPEG-4 Part 10 or AVC (Advanced Video Coding), is one of the most widely used video compression standards that has revolutionized film, television, and online streaming.

Early Development

Work on H.264 began in 1999 as a joint project between ITU-T (through the Video Coding Experts Group - VCEG) and ISO/IEC MPEG. The goal was to develop a codec offering high image quality with much lower bandwidth usage than earlier standards like MPEG-2.

Release and Adoption

The official version of the standard was published in 2003. Thanks to its excellent balance of quality and file size, H.264 was quickly adopted by many platforms: from Blu-ray discs and digital TV to online services like YouTube and Netflix.

Impact on the Industry

H.264 enabled HD video delivery even when internet speeds were much slower than today. It also made video streaming on mobile devices and video conferencing in decent quality widely accessible.

Legacy and the Future

Although newer formats like H.265 (HEVC) and AV1 are gaining popularity, H.264 remains widely supported and in use. Its impact on the digital video landscape is undeniable.

H.264 is a milestone in video history — combining efficiency, quality, and accessibility.