codec

Definition: Compression decompression: routine or algorithm for compressing and decompressing files e.g. JPEG, MPEG. * Codecs may be implemented as software or on put onto a microprocessor chip. * Image file codecs are usually specific to the format, but it is important that video codecs are not tied to a video format. * Codecs take up a lot of computing power: with image files this can be handled by the software but with video, speed is vital, so many codecs are hardware-based.

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