Editing Codec (section)

{{short description|Device or software for encoding or decoding a digital data stream}}
{{About|encoding and decoding a digital data stream}}

A '''codec''' is a computer [[computer hardware|hardware]] or [[software]] component that encodes or [[Decoding methods|decodes]] a [[data stream]] or [[signal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/15070/windows-media-player-codecs-frequently-asked-questions|title=Using codecs|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906114538/https://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/faq/codec.mspx|archive-date=September 6, 2010|access-date=2009-12-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://desktopvideo.about.com/od/glossary/g/codec.htm|title=About.com - Codec|last=Siegchrist|first=Gretchen|publisher=About.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405161202/http://desktopvideo.about.com/od/glossary/g/codec.htm|archive-date=April 5, 2015|access-date=2009-12-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://help.ubuntu.com/8.04/musicvideophotos/C/codecs.html |title=Ubuntu Documentation - What is a codec? |publisher=Ubuntu Documentation Team |access-date=2009-12-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219101738/https://help.ubuntu.com/8.04/musicvideophotos/C/codecs.html |archive-date=February 19, 2012 }}</ref> ''Codec'' is a [[portmanteau]] of '''coder/decoder'''.<ref>{{cite dictionary |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/codec |title=Codec – Definition of Codec by Merriam-Webster |dictionary=Merriam-Webster |access-date=2019-01-15}}</ref>

In electronic communications, an '''endec''' is a device that acts as both an encoder and a decoder on a signal or data stream,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rouse |first=Margaret |date=24 October 2016 |title=Encoder/Decoder |url=https://www.techopedia.com/definition/11463/encoderdecoder-endec |access-date=27 December 2023 |website=Techopedia}}</ref> and hence is a type of codec. ''Endec'' is a [[portmanteau]] of '''encoder/decoder'''.

A coder or encoder encodes a data stream or a signal for transmission or storage, possibly in [[encrypted]] form, and the decoder function reverses the encoding for playback or editing. Codecs are used in [[videoconferencing]], [[streaming media]], and [[video editing]] applications.