| Extension | MKV |
| Full Name | Matroska Multimedia Container |
| Type | Video |
| Mime Type | video/x-matroska |
| Format | Binary |
An MKV file, or Matroska Video File, is an audio/video file format created to store multimedia data in a highly compressed format. The MKV format supports a wide variety of audio and video codecs and is a popular format for distributing video files.
The format itself is a container format, meaning it supports many different audio and video tracks, all using different codecs. Along with audio and video, other data, such as chapters, markers, sub-titles, and other useful data, can be stored within the file.
Support for editing MKV files is widespread, with most video editing applications able to open MKV files. Video playback software, however, can sometimes struggle to playback MKV files if they are not equipped with the correct codecs.
| Extension | MP3 |
| Full Name | MPEG-2 Audio Layer III |
| Type | Audio |
| Mime Type | audio/mpeg |
| Format | Binary |
MP3 files are a well-known file format for the storage and playback of music and digital audio. The MP3 format has been around for a long time and has become a standard format for music. Despite newer formats arriving, such as AAC, MP3 still remains the primary choice for digital music playback.
It's highly efficient compression methods allow what would otherwise be very large audio data to be compressed down to a fraction of its size with little noticeable difference in quality. The quality, or bit rate, can be specified from 96KB/s (low quality) to 320KB/s (high quality). Naturally, the higher the bit rate, the larger the final MP3 file.
MP3 files are synonymous with digital music and are therefore supported by all major audio and music editing and playback software. Major operating systems and platforms often have built-in support for the playback of MP3 files.
