ffmpeg-formats

ffmpeg-formats

The `ffmpeg-formats` command is a utility provided as part of the FFmpeg multimedia framework. It displays a comprehensive list of the audio and video formats that FFmpeg supports for encoding and decoding. The output includes format names, descriptions, and flags indicating the capabilities of each format (e.g., whether it supports demuxing, muxing, or encoding/decoding). This information is critical for understanding which formats FFmpeg can work with for a specific media processing task. The command's output is typically piped or redirected to a file for easy reference. Users leverage `ffmpeg-formats` to identify the proper format specifiers for use with the `ffmpeg` command-line tool, ensuring compatibility with their desired input or output media files. The output is verbose, categorized, and easily parsable, making it an essential tool for anyone working extensively with FFmpeg. The command provides a foundational understanding for using FFmpeg effectively.

The output can be lengthy and may require filtering or parsing for specific formats. The availability of specific formats depends on the FFmpeg build configuration.

The output is structured into columns.
The first column usually shows flags.
These flags are:
D: Demuxing
E: Encoding
V: Decoding
S: Supports subtitles

While the command itself takes no parameters, the output is often piped to other commands for filtering.
Example: `ffmpeg-formats | grep mp4` will list all formats related to the 'mp4' container.

The `ffmpeg-formats` command is an integral part of the FFmpeg project, which began in 2000. It was developed to provide a straightforward way to query the formats supported by a particular FFmpeg build. Its main purpose is to give users the means to understand the encoding/decoding options available with the `ffmpeg` command-line tool, enabling them to effectively process diverse multimedia content.

ffmpeg(1), ffmpeg-codecs(1), ffmpeg-devices(1)