Last updated on January 23rd, 2024 at 02:18 am
H.265 is also known as High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC). It is a lossy, video compression codec.
Its main purpose is to improve the coding efficiency of H.264, also known as MPEG-4 AVC (Advanced Video Coding).
H.264 isn’t an efficient compression for higher-resolution video. Thus, the introduction of H.265.
The H.265 project was launched in 2010. It was undertaken under the initiative of the Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) and the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG).
The first version of HEVC saw the light of day in 2013.
How Does H.265 Provide Higher Quality Video?
H.265 uses advanced methods to encode and decode video. It uses sophisticated advanced prediction algorithms. It also supports large block sizes during the encoding and decoding process.
Practical Uses
The H.265 video compression is popularly used in high-definition video environments.
Among them are video conferencing, video streaming, and video on demand (VOD).
Some video recording equipment also supports H.265. Examples are video cameras and digital cameras.
Support for H.265 is also extended to video editing software. An example of a software program that supports H.265 video compression is the VSDC Free Video Editor.
H.265 is also used with 4K security camera systems.
H.265 and 4K video
The advent of 4K video has made H.265 video compression more popular.
H,265 allows video to be compressed at half the bitrate of H.264. That means the video codec is twice as efficient as H.264.
If the same bitrate is used as that of H.264, a higher video quality is delivered.
This compression efficiency is useful for 4K video. If H.264 is used for 4K video, a large amount of space would be taken up.
H.265 can support a maximum video resolution of 8192 pixels x 4320 pixels.
When HEVC is used for streaming video, it becomes easier to stream and download high-quality video.
How Does HEVC Encoding Take Place?
Here’s how the H.265 video compression works. If you’re using a computer to encode video, it’s going to take up much processing power.
However, HEVC works in an intelligent mode. It looks for frames with the same video information. When it detects a series of frames with video information that doesn’t change, it just sends the first full frame.
The other ‘duplicate’ frames need not be sent. This reduces the file size of the video that is delivered.
When file size is reduced it helps with situations where bandwidth is limited. When smaller bandwidths are used for high-quality video, video data transmission costs are reduced.
H.265-Related Equipment
Among the devices that support the H.265 codec are media players and TV boxes.
There are also H.265 pro camcorders, IPTV encoders and Security DVRs.
References
High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC): Algorithms and Architectures,edited by Vivienne Sze, Madhukar Budagavi, Gary J. Sullivan
