What is vp9?
Google's open, royalty-free codec, typically paired with the WebM container, delivering H.264-level quality at roughly 30–50% less data.
VP9 is why WebM files are usually smaller than an equivalent-quality MP4 - it's the codec doing the compression, with WebM as the container carrying it. YouTube uses VP9 internally for a large share of its streaming, which is part of why YouTube explicitly supports WebM uploads while most other platforms don't.
VP9 decode support is solid on modern browsers but patchier in dedicated editing software and older hardware than H.264, so it suits web embedding more than it suits a file you plan to keep editing.
Koldflux picks the right codec, container and bitrate for every platform automatically - this glossary exists because our own team had to get it right first.
Automate this in Koldflux