What is the main advantage of the WebM video file format?

Video API
1

I read through the documentation here Transform and adapt media assets that ImageKit supports WebM as the output format? Is it better than MP4 always? Are there any advantages or disadvantages of using WebM over other video formats?

2

WebM is often preferred for its efficient compression and high-quality video playback, especially for web applications. However, the use case depends on whether it’s “better” than MP4.

Advantages of WebM:

  1. Smaller file size : WebM tends to offer better compression without sacrificing quality, resulting in smaller file sizes compared to MP4
  2. Optimal for streaming : WebM works well for streaming applications where bandwidth is a concern, especially when targeting browsers that support the format.

Disadvantages of WebM:

  1. Limited device support : WebM is not as universally supported as MP4, particularly on Apple devices like iPhones and iPads, which do not natively support WebM in some cases. This can make MP4 a safer choice if broad compatibility is needed.
  2. Browser limitations : While most modern browsers support WebM, some of them don’t.
  3. Quality trade-offs : In certain situations like fast-moving or detailed scenes, MP4 (H.264) might provide better visual quality at similar file sizes. Though this depends on encoding settings

Since ImageKit can automatically take care of WebM vs MP4 as an output format depending on device compatibility, the biggest disadvantage of WebM, i.e., browser compatibility, is automatically taken care of. You can turn on the automatic video format optimization setting and always get the video delivered in the lightest possible format.