How do MP4 and FLVcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
MPEG-4 Part 14
MP4 is the most widely used video format in the world. It's the default for everything from YouTube to TikTok, smartphones to streaming services. If you need one video format that works everywhere, MP4 is it.
Flash Video
FLV was the dominant web video format during the Flash era. While Flash is dead, FLV files still exist in archives and legacy systems. Converting FLV to MP4 is one of the most common conversion needs.
| Specification | MP4 | FLV |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | MPEG-4 Part 14 | Flash Video |
| Extension | .mp4 | .flv |
| MIME type | video/mp4 | video/x-flv |
| Category | Video | Video |
| Developer | ISO / Moving Picture Experts Group | Adobe (Macromedia) |
| Year introduced | 2001 | 2003 |
MP4 is the universal standard — it works everywhere. FLV has its niche: converting old web videos. When in doubt, convert to MP4 for maximum compatibility.
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