What is the Difference Between MPEG4 and H264 and H263?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚MPEG-4, H.264, and H.263 are all video compression standards, but they differ in their capabilities and applications. Here are the main differences between them:
- MPEG-4: It is a digital media compression standard developed by the Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) and incorporates features of MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 with newer industry technologies. MPEG-4 is widely used for online videos, mobile videos, disc content distribution, and broadcast television programs. It also supports 3D rendering and other advanced features.
- H.264: Also known as MPEG-4 Part 10 or Advanced Video Coding (AVC), H.264 is a component of the MPEG-4 standard and is based on the H.263 codec. It was developed with the goal of improving video quality while reducing bitrate compared to earlier MPEG codecs, such as MPEG-2, H.262, and H.263. H.264 offers better image quality at a lower bitrate compared to MPEG-4, making it more adequate for fluent and undistorted quality for real-time playback. It supports high-resolution videos up to 8K and is often used as the video codec for Blu-ray discs.
- H.263: Developed by the Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) as a member of the H.26x family, H.263 is the predecessor to H.264. It was developed for low bitrate video, while H.264 can encode both low and high-quality videos. H.263 is no longer as widely used as H.264 due to its lower compression efficiency and inferior video quality.
In summary, MPEG-4 is a broader standard that encompasses various compression methods, while H.264 and H.263 are specific codecs within the MPEG-4 framework. H.264 offers better video quality and compression efficiency compared to MPEG-4 and H.263, making it the more popular choice for various applications, including streaming high-quality videos and video compression for discs.
Comparative Table: MPEG4 vs H264 vs H263
Here is a table comparing the differences between MPEG-4, H.264, and H.263:
| Feature | MPEG-4 | H.264 (MPEG-4 Part 10 / AVC) | H.263 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developed by | Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) | Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) | Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) |
| Purpose | Digital media compression standard | Component of the MPEG-4 standard, Advanced Video Coding (AVC) | Predecessor to H.264, basis for H.264 codec |
| Compression | Less advanced compression methods compared to H.264 | More advanced compression methods than MPEG-4, up to 1.5 to 2 times more efficient | Developed for low bitrate video |
| Video Quality | Suitable for various video applications, including 3D rendering | Provides fluent and better video quality for real-time playback and more efficient mobile surveillance applications | Not as efficient or high-quality as H.264 |
| High Compression Rate | No | Yes | No |
| Supports High-Resolution Videos | No | Yes, up to 8K | No |
MPEG-4 is a digital media compression standard developed by MPEG, while H.264 is a component of the MPEG-4 standard, also known as Advanced Video Coding (AVC). H.263 is the predecessor to H.264 and the basis for the H.264 codec. H.264 has more advanced compression methods than MPEG-4, resulting in more efficient compression and improved video quality. H.263 was developed for low bitrate video, while H.264 can encode both low and high-quality videos successfully.