Decision guide
Best video format for the web
Web video needs native browser playback, efficient compression and predictable licensing. The engine scores every video format in the graph against those dimensions.
Short answer: MP4 ranks first (91/100) because lossy compression keeps the bitrate low enough to stream reliably.
The ranking, and the reasoning behind it
Scores are computed from structured facts in the knowledge graph, weighted for this specific question. Nothing here is written by hand, and every line of reasoning traces back to a recorded fact.
#1MP4
91/100
MP4 is the default video container, normally holding H.264 video and AAC audio.
All MP4 factsWhy it scores well
- Streaming 100/100 — lossy compression keeps the bitrate low enough to stream reliably; browsers decode it natively, so it plays without a plugin.
- Browser compatibility 100/100 — every major browser engine renders it natively; at least one shipping browser renders it.
- Licensing 100/100 — an openly specified format can be implemented without a licence negotiation; the core patents are old enough to have expired.
#2WebM
88/100
WebM is Google's royalty-free web video container using VP9 or AV1 with Opus audio.
All WebM factsWhy it scores well
- Streaming 100/100 — lossy compression keeps the bitrate low enough to stream reliably; browsers decode it natively, so it plays without a plugin.
- Browser compatibility 100/100 — every major browser engine renders it natively; at least one shipping browser renders it.
- Popularity 71/100 — it sits at the centre of the format ecosystem, with many documented relationships; every mainstream operating system handles it.
#3MKV
57/100
MKV is an open container that can hold almost any codec plus unlimited tracks.
Why it scores well
- Licensing 100/100 — an openly specified format can be implemented without a licence negotiation; the core patents are old enough to have expired.
- Compression efficiency 69/100 — it compresses lossily, which produces much smaller files than lossless coding; it defines a documented compression scheme.
- Streaming 62/100 — lossy compression keeps the bitrate low enough to stream reliably; open specifications avoid per-stream licensing complications.
All MKV factsWhere it loses points
- Browser compatibility 33/100 — native browser support is incomplete or undocumented.
- Popularity 43/100 — it does not satisfy: mainstream applications ship support for it; it does not satisfy: every mainstream operating system handles it.
#4MOV
55/100
MOV is Apple's QuickTime container, standard in video editing and on iPhone.
Why it scores well
- Licensing 100/100 — the core patents are old enough to have expired.
- Compression efficiency 69/100 — it compresses lossily, which produces much smaller files than lossless coding; it defines a documented compression scheme.
All MOV factsWhere it loses points
- Browser compatibility 33/100 — native browser support is incomplete or undocumented.
- Popularity 43/100 — it does not satisfy: mainstream applications ship support for it; it does not satisfy: every mainstream operating system handles it.
#5AVI
53/100
AVI is Microsoft's legacy video container from the Windows 3.1 era.
Why it scores well
- Licensing 100/100 — the core patents are old enough to have expired.
- Compression efficiency 69/100 — it compresses lossily, which produces much smaller files than lossless coding; it defines a documented compression scheme.
All AVI factsWhere it loses points
- Popularity 29/100 — it does not satisfy: mainstream applications ship support for it; it does not satisfy: every mainstream operating system handles it.
- Browser compatibility 33/100 — native browser support is incomplete or undocumented.
How this ranking is calculated
Each format is scored 0–100 on every dimension the graph can evaluate for it. For this question the dimensions carry these weights:
- streaming ×3
- browser compatibility ×3
- compression efficiency ×2
- licensing ×1
- popularity ×1
No machine learning is involved. The engine is deterministic: the same facts always produce the same ranking, and adding a new fact to the graph updates it automatically.