DevKits

video/*

video/mp4

File extensions: .mp4, .m4v

MPEG-4 container — the universal video format on the web.

What is video/mp4?

video/mp4 is the media type for MP4 video — an MPEG-4 container typically holding H.264 or H.265 video and AAC audio. It is the safest bet for cross-browser playback via HTML <video>.

Typical usage

Product videos, tutorials, HTML5 <video>, video ads.

Common gotchas

Older H.264 baseline profile plays everywhere; H.265 (HEVC) has patent/royalty issues and is not supported by all browsers. Provide multiple sources when in doubt.

HTTP header example

Response header

Content-Type: video/mp4

Reference

RFC 4337

Frequently asked questions

What is the video/mp4 MIME type?

video/mp4 is the media type for MP4 video — an MPEG-4 container typically holding H.264 or H.265 video and AAC audio. It is the safest bet for cross-browser playback via HTML <video>.

What file extension does video/mp4 use?

Files served as video/mp4 typically use the extensions .mp4, .m4v. The most common is .mp4.

How do I set the Content-Type for video/mp4?

Send the HTTP response header Content-Type: video/mp4. Product videos, tutorials, HTML5 <video>, video ads.

Is video/mp4 an official MIME type?

Yes. video/mp4 is officially registered with IANA (RFC 4337), so standards-conformant clients recognize it.

What are common mistakes with video/mp4?

Older H.264 baseline profile plays everywhere; H.265 (HEVC) has patent/royalty issues and is not supported by all browsers. Provide multiple sources when in doubt.

Related MIME types