<pre class='metadata'>

Title: WebCodecs Codec Registry

Repository: w3c/webcodecs

Status: NOTE-ED

Shortname: webcodecs-codec-registry

Level: none

Group: mediawg

ED: https://w3c.github.io/webcodecs/codec_registry.html

TR: https://www.w3.org/TR/webcodecs-codec-registry/

Editor: Paul Adenot, w3cid 62410, Mozilla https://www.mozilla.org/

Editor: Eugene Zemtsov, w3cid 139375, Google LLC https://www.google.com/

Former Editor: Bernard Aboba, w3cid 65611, Microsoft Corporation https://www.microsoft.com/

Former Editor: Chris Cunningham, w3cid 114832, Google Inc. https://www.google.com/

Boilerplate: omit conformance

Abstract: This registry is intended to enhance interoperability among

implementations and users of [[WEBCODECS]]. In particular, this

registry provides the means to identify and avoid collisions among codec

strings and provides a mechanism to define codec-specific members of

[[WEBCODECS]] codec configuration dictionaries.

This registry is not intended to include any information on whether a codec

format is encumbered by intellectual property claims. Implementers and

users are advised to seek appropriate legal counsel in this matter if they

intend to implement or use a specific codec format. Implementers of

WebCodecs are not required to support any particular codec nor registry

entry.

This registry is non-normative.

Markup Shorthands:css no, markdown yes, dfn yes

!Participate: <a href="https://github.com/w3c/webcodecs">Git Repository.</a>

!Participate: <a href="https://github.com/w3c/webcodecs/issues/new">File an issue.</a>

!Version History: <a href="https://github.com/w3c/webcodecs/commits">https://github.com/w3c/webcodecs/commits</a>

</pre>

Organization {#organization}

============================

This registry maintains a mapping between <a>codec strings</a> and registration

specifications as described below.

Registration Entry Requirements {#registration-entry-requirements}

==================================================================

To register an entry, file an issue in the

[WebCodecs GitHub issue tracker](https://github.com/w3c/webcodecs/issues/)

so it can be discussed and evaluated for compliance before being added to

the registry.

The Media Working Group might seek expertise from outside the

Working Group as part of its evaluation, e.g., from the codec specification

editors or relevant standards group. If the codec specification is not

publicly available, it must be made available to the Working Group for

evaluation. For the entry to be included, there needs

to be interest from at least one implementer in the Working Group. If the Working Group

reaches consensus to accept the candidate entry, send a pull request (either by editors

or by the party requesting the candidate registration) that meets the following requirements:

1. A unique <a>codec string</a>, a common name string, and a

link to the codec's public <dfn>registration specification</dfn>.

2. The <a>codec string</a> requirements are as follows:

1. If the <a>codec string</a> contains a fixed prefix with variable suffix values,

the suffix must be represented by an asterisk and the registration's

public specification must describe how to fully qualify the variable

portion of the string.

2. Otherwise, if the codec is recognized by multiple strings, a single

preferred string should be listed and the registration's specification

must list the other allowed strings.

3. Otherwise, the codec is identified by a simple fixed string.

3. Each registration's specification must include a sequence of sections

describing:

1. Recognized codec strings.

2. {{EncodedAudioChunk}} or {{EncodedVideoChunk}} internal data.

3. {{AudioDecoderConfig}} or {{VideoDecoderConfig}} description bytes.

4. Expectations for {{EncodedAudioChunk}} or {{EncodedVideoChunk}}

{{EncodedVideoChunk/[[type]]}}.

4. Where applicable, a registration specification may include a section describing [=partial dictionary|extensions to the dictionaries=] used in the `configure()`, `decode()` and `encode()` methods of the decoder and encoder interfaces (e.g., {{AudioDecoderConfig}}, {{VideoDecoderConfig}}, {{AudioEncoderConfig}}, {{VideoEncoderConfig}}, {{VideoEncoderEncodeOptions}}).

Once consensus is reached by the Working Group, the registry editors will review and merge the pull request.

Existing entries cannot be deleted or deprecated. They may be changed after

being published through the same process as candidate entries. Possible

changes include expansion of the <a>codec string</a> to better qualify the codec,

adjustments to the codec name string, and modification of the link to the

codec's specification.

Audio Codec Registry {#audio-codec-registry}

============================================

<table class='data'>

<thead>

<tr>

<th>Codec string</th>

<th>Common name</th>

<th>Registration specification</th>

</tr>

</thead>

<tr>

<td>flac</td>

<td>Flac</td>

<td>[FLAC codec registration](https://www.w3.org/TR/webcodecs-flac-codec-registration/) [[WEBCODECS-FLAC-CODEC-REGISTRATION]]</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>mp3</td>

<td>MP3</td>

<td>[MP3 WebCodecs

Registration](https://www.w3.org/TR/webcodecs-mp3-codec-registration/)

[[WEBCODECS-MP3-CODEC-REGISTRATION]]</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>mp4a.\*</td>

<td>AAC</td>

<td>[AAC WebCodecs

Registration](https://www.w3.org/TR/webcodecs-aac-codec-registration/)

[[WEBCODECS-AAC-CODEC-REGISTRATION]]</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>opus</td>

<td>Opus</td>

<td>[Opus WebCodecs

Registration](https://www.w3.org/TR/webcodecs-opus-codec-registration/)

[[WEBCODECS-OPUS-CODEC-REGISTRATION]]</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>vorbis</td>

<td>Vorbis</td>

<td>[Vorbis WebCodecs

Registration](https://www.w3.org/TR/webcodecs-vorbis-codec-registration/)

[[WEBCODECS-VORBIS-CODEC-REGISTRATION]]</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>ulaw</td>

<td>u-law PCM</td>

<td>[u-law PCM WebCodecs

Registration](https://www.w3.org/TR/webcodecs-ulaw-codec-registration/)

[[WEBCODECS-ULAW-CODEC-REGISTRATION]]</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>alaw</td>

<td>A-law PCM</td>

<td>[A-law PCM WebCodecs

Registration](https://www.w3.org/TR/webcodecs-alaw-codec-registration/)

[[WEBCODECS-ALAW-CODEC-REGISTRATION]]</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>pcm-\*</td>

<td>Linear PCM</td>

<td>[Linear PCM WebCodecs

Registration](https://www.w3.org/TR/webcodecs-pcm-codec-registration/)

[[WEBCODECS-PCM-CODEC-REGISTRATION]]</td>

</tr>

</table>

Video Codec Registry {#video-codec-registry}

============================================

<table class='data'>

<thead>

<tr>

<th>Codec string</th>

<th>Common name</th>

<th>Registration specification</th>

</tr>

</thead>

<tr>

<td>av01.\*</td>

<td>AV1</td>

<td>[AV1 codec registration](https://www.w3.org/TR/webcodecs-av1-codec-registration/) [[WEBCODECS-AV1-CODEC-REGISTRATION]]</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>avc1.\*, avc3.\*</td>

<td>AVC / H.264</td>

<td>[AVC (H.264) WebCodecs Registration](https://www.w3.org/TR/webcodecs-avc-codec-registration/) [[WEBCODECS-AVC-CODEC-REGISTRATION]]</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>hev1.\*, hvc1.\*</td>

<td>HEVC / H.265</td>

<td>[HEVC (H.265) WebCodecs Registration](https://www.w3.org/TR/webcodecs-hevc-codec-registration/) [[WEBCODECS-HEVC-CODEC-REGISTRATION]]</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>vp8</td>

<td>VP8</td>

<td>[VP8 codec registration](https://www.w3.org/TR/webcodecs-vp8-codec-registration/) [[WEBCODECS-VP8-CODEC-REGISTRATION]]</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>vp09.\*</td>

<td>VP9</td>

<td>[VP9 codec registration](https://www.w3.org/TR/webcodecs-vp9-codec-registration/) [[WEBCODECS-VP9-CODEC-REGISTRATION]]</td>

</tr>

</table>

Privacy Considerations {#privacy-considerations}

==========================================================================

Please refer to the section [[WEBCODECS#privacy-considerations|Privacy

Considerations]] in [[WEBCODECS]].

Security Considerations {#security-considerations}

==========================================================================

Please refer to the section [[WEBCODECS#security-considerations|Security

Considerations]] in [[WEBCODECS]].