What is a .AVI file?
An AVI file, which stands for Audio Video Interleave File, is a type of video file format that was developed by Microsoft. This format allows for the storage of both video and audio data within a single file. AVI files are saved in a multimedia container format known as Audio Video Interleave, which was introduced by Microsoft in 1992. This format is based on the Resource Interchange File Format (RIFF), a container format that was first released in 1991 to store various types of multimedia.
AVI files can contain video and audio data that are encoded using different codecs, such as DivX and XviD. These codecs help to compress and decompress the video and audio data. Despite the compression, AVI files are known for their ability to maintain high video quality. However, because they use less compression compared to other video formats like .MPEG and .MOV, AVI files tend to be larger in size. This can be a concern if you have limited storage space.
To open an AVI file, you can use various media players and software programs. Some of the most common programs that can open AVI files include: 1. **Microsoft Media Player** - This is included with Microsoft operating systems and can play AVI files. 2. **VideoLAN VLC Media Player** - A highly versatile player that supports a wide range of video formats including AVI. 3. **Kodi** - A media center application that can manage and play AVI files. 4. **FFmpeg** - A multimedia framework that can decode, encode, transcode, mux, demux, stream, filter, and play almost anything that humans and machines have created. 5. **Adobe Premiere Pro 2023** - A professional video editing software that can handle AVI files. 6. **CyberLink PowerDirector 365** - Another video editing software that supports AVI format. 7. **Apple QuickTime Player** - Available on Apple operating systems, it can also play AVI files with the right codecs installed. 8. **Google Drive** - You can upload your AVI files to Google Drive and play them directly in the browser.
These programs are available on various platforms, including Windows, macOS, and mobile operating systems like iOS and Android. Some of these applications, like VLC Media Player, are free to download and use, while others may require a purchase or subscription.
Verification
Our goal is to help people find the most up-to-date information about file extensions for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. We researched over 10,000 file extensions and their respective programs that open those files. If you want to suggest edits or updates about .AVI file formats, example files, or programs that are compatible. Please contact us.