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format · legacy

AVI

AVI is Microsoft's legacy video container from the Windows 3.1 era.

Also known as Audio Video Interleave.

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What is a AVI file?

An early RIFF-based container that stores interleaved audio and video, still encountered in archives and older camcorder footage.

Technical characteristics

Representation
binary
Compression
DivX, Xvid, MJPEG, Uncompressed
Lossy
Yes

History and origin

Introduced
1992
Created by
Microsoft

Compatibility

  • Windowsfull
  • macOSpartial
  • Linuxfull

Browsers: None.

Advantages of AVI

  • Simple structure
  • Huge legacy library of content

Limitations to know about

  • No modern streaming features
  • Poor support for subtitles and variable bitrate audio
  • Large files

When to use AVI

  • Legacy archives
  • Old camcorder footage

Convert AVI files

AVI scores

Deterministic scores calculated from the structured facts above. Identical facts always produce identical scores.

Overall score

40/100

  • Openness score

    100
    • the core patents are old enough to have expired

    Confidence 39% · evidence coverage 40%

  • Performance score

    88
    • smaller payloads mean less I/O and faster first paint
    • it compresses lossily, which produces much smaller files than lossless coding

    Confidence 57% · evidence coverage 100%

  • Streaming score

    67
    • smaller payloads mean less I/O and faster first paint
    • lossy compression keeps the bitrate low enough to stream reliably
    • it compresses lossily, which produces much smaller files than lossless coding
    • native browser support is incomplete or undocumented

    Confidence 56% · evidence coverage 100%

  • Web score

    56
    • smaller payloads mean less I/O and faster first paint
    • it compresses lossily, which produces much smaller files than lossless coding
    • native browser support is incomplete or undocumented
    • browsers cannot display it directly

    Confidence 59% · evidence coverage 83%

  • Compatibility score

    40
    • it converts into many other formats, which suits automated pipelines
    • some devices ask the person to install something first
    • native browser support is incomplete or undocumented

    Confidence 62% · evidence coverage 100%

  • Archiving score

    27
    • the core patents are old enough to have expired
    • it is marked legacy or deprecated in the knowledge graph
    • lossy encoding permanently discards data that cannot be recovered later

    Confidence 54% · evidence coverage 67%

  • AI score

    27
    • smaller payloads mean less I/O and faster first paint
    • lossy artefacts add noise that models can learn by mistake
    • only a narrow set of applications handles it

    Confidence 43% · evidence coverage 71%

  • Photography score

    24
    • it compresses lossily, which produces much smaller files than lossless coding
    • each edit-and-save cycle compounds compression damage
    • some devices ask the person to install something first

    Confidence 51% · evidence coverage 44%

  • Editing score

    13
    • each edit-and-save cycle compounds compression damage
    • only a narrow set of applications handles it

    Confidence 46% · evidence coverage 63%

  • Longevity score

    12
    • it is marked legacy or deprecated in the knowledge graph
    • it does not satisfy: mainstream applications ship support for it

    Confidence 58% · evidence coverage 75%

  • Printing score

    8
    • lossy artefacts become visible when the image is enlarged for print
    • only a narrow set of applications handles it

    Confidence 50% · evidence coverage 50%

What AVI is recommended for

Every conclusion below is derived from the structured facts on this page — nothing is written by hand.

  • Licensing100/100

    • Because the core patents are old enough to have expired.

  • Decode performance100/100

    • Because smaller payloads mean less I/O and faster first paint.
    • Because mature formats benefit from hardware and SIMD-optimised decoders.

  • Compression efficiency69/100

    • Because it compresses lossily, which produces much smaller files than lossless coding.
    • Because it defines a documented compression scheme.

What AVI is not recommended for

  • Printing suitability0/100

    • Because lossy artefacts become visible when the image is enlarged for print.
    • Because it does not satisfy: it is a page-description format built around fixed layout.

  • AI compatibility0/100

    • Because lossy artefacts add noise that models can learn by mistake.
    • Because it does not satisfy: wide library support means common data loaders can read it.

  • Professional editing0/100

    • Because each edit-and-save cycle compounds compression damage.
    • Because it does not satisfy: professional applications read and write it.

  • Future-proofing0/100

    • Because it is marked legacy or deprecated in the knowledge graph.
    • Because a successor format already exists and is taking over its use cases.
    • Because it does not satisfy: it is a modern design rather than a legacy carry-over.

  • Long-term archiving20/100

    • Because lossy encoding permanently discards data that cannot be recovered later.
    • Because it is legacy or deprecated, so tooling support will keep shrinking.
    • Because a newer format already supersedes it, which shortens its support horizon.

  • Everyday consumer usage25/100

    • Because some devices ask the person to install something first.
    • Because it is a legacy format that recipients may struggle to open.

  • Popularity29/100

    • Because it does not satisfy: mainstream applications ship support for it.
    • Because it does not satisfy: every mainstream operating system handles it.
    • Because its usage is declining as tooling moves on.

  • Browser compatibility33/100

    • Because native browser support is incomplete or undocumented.

  • Operating system compatibility33/100

    • Because at least one mainstream platform needs extra software.

  • Software compatibility33/100

    • Because only a narrow set of applications handles it.

Successors and legacy considerations

Superseded by: MKV.

The knowledge graph marks AVI as legacy, so expect shrinking tooling support over time.

MKV supersedes it in new work.

It scores 20/100 for archiving: lossy encoding permanently discards data that cannot be recovered later; it is legacy or deprecated, so tooling support will keep shrinking.

Related to AVI

File extensions

Media types

Key concepts

Compared with

Alternatives

Created by

Succeeds

Data quality

Every claim on this page is classified as a verified fact, a derived fact or an assumption.

Overall confidence
83%
Verification status
verified
Last reviewed
2026-08-03
Verified facts
2

2 classified claims backed by 1 source.

  • Convert Always editorial review — Convert Always

Sources and review status

Review status: verified · confidence 80%

Last reviewed 2026-08-03 (revision 1).

  • Convert Always editorial review — Convert Always