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Glossary Forensics

Container format

A container format, such as MP4, MKV or WAV, wraps one or more encoded streams (video, audio, subtitles) and their metadata into one file.

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In more detail

The container holds timestamps and creation data that forensic tools parse, such as MP4 atoms with their own epoch for creation time. The same codec can sit inside different containers, so identify both. See Codec.

Try these tools

Video Forensics

Analyze MP4, MOV, WebM and MKV files in your browser - walk the container structure, read creation timestamps and encoder tags.

Binary & Archive Forensics

Inspect any file's true type by magic bytes, carve embedded files at any offset.

See also

  • Glossary Codec
    A codec (coder-decoder) is the method used to compress and decompress audio or video, such as H.264, H.265, AV1, AAC or MP3.
  • Glossary Metadata
    Metadata is data about data: the hidden or secondary information a file carries about itself, such as its author, creation date.
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