ISO/IEC 14496-12:2022
(Main)Information technology - Coding of audio-visual objects - Part 12: ISO base media file format
Information technology - Coding of audio-visual objects - Part 12: ISO base media file format
This document specifies the ISO base media file format, which is a general format forming the basis for a number of other more specific file formats. This format contains the timing, structure, and media information for timed sequences of media data, such as audio-visual presentations.
Technologies de l'information — Codage des objets audiovisuels — Partie 12: Format ISO de base pour les fichiers médias
General Information
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 24-Jan-2022
- Technical Committee
- ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29 - Coding of audio, picture, multimedia and hypermedia information
- Drafting Committee
- ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29/WG 3 - MPEG Systems
- Current Stage
- 9092 - International Standard to be revised
- Start Date
- 02-Sep-2022
- Completion Date
- 30-Oct-2025
Relations
- Effective Date
- 04-Sep-2021
Overview
ISO/IEC 14496-12:2022 - ISO base media file format - defines a general, extensible media container that specifies the timing, structure, and media information for timed sequences (audio‑visual presentations). Published as the seventh edition in 2022, this part of ISO/IEC 14496 provides the object‑structured file organization used as the foundation for a number of more specific file formats (for example, MP4 and HEIF). The standard separates metadata (structure) from media data, supports fragments for streaming, and defines identifiers and branding for interoperability.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Object‑structured file organization: box (atom)-based hierarchy that encapsulates metadata and media data; clear rules for box order and extensibility.
- File‑type and extended type boxes: mechanisms for brand identification and file compatibility indications.
- Movie/Track/Media boxes: containers such as movie box, track box, media box, and sample table box that describe presentation structure and per‑track information.
- Sample tables and timing: definitions for sample descriptions, time‑to‑sample mappings, sync samples, edit lists and other time structures required to present timed media accurately.
- Track data layout: data reference, sample size, sample‑to‑chunk and chunk offset structures that map logical samples to physical media data.
- Fragmentation and streaming support: movie fragments, fragment headers, random access boxes and related boxes to enable fragmented MP4 for low‑latency delivery and adaptive streaming.
- Identifiers and URIs: uniform resource locators and type indicators used for external data referencing and extensibility.
- Metadata and extensibility: structured approach to add new boxes and fields while preserving backward compatibility.
Applications and who uses it
- Content creators and encoders: produce compliant files that carry synchronized audio/video and metadata.
- Packagers and streaming vendors: implement fragmentation and branding for DASH/HLS packaging and low‑latency streaming.
- Media players and SDKs: parse box structures, sample tables and timing to enable accurate playback, seeking and random access.
- Transcoders, muxers and CDN operators: read/write sample tables and fragments for repackaging and delivery.
- DRM and metadata providers: use box structures and identifiers to embed protection and descriptive metadata.
Related standards
- Part of the ISO/IEC 14496 (MPEG‑4) family; serves as the base for derived formats (commonly used MP4/HEIF file types) and is widely referenced by adaptive streaming and packaging specifications.
Keywords: ISO/IEC 14496-12:2022, ISO base media file format, MP4, media container, fragmented MP4, sample table, movie box, streaming, timed media.
Frequently Asked Questions
ISO/IEC 14496-12:2022 is a standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Its full title is "Information technology - Coding of audio-visual objects - Part 12: ISO base media file format". This standard covers: This document specifies the ISO base media file format, which is a general format forming the basis for a number of other more specific file formats. This format contains the timing, structure, and media information for timed sequences of media data, such as audio-visual presentations.
This document specifies the ISO base media file format, which is a general format forming the basis for a number of other more specific file formats. This format contains the timing, structure, and media information for timed sequences of media data, such as audio-visual presentations.
ISO/IEC 14496-12:2022 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 35.040.40 - Coding of audio, video, multimedia and hypermedia information. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
ISO/IEC 14496-12:2022 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to ISO/IEC 14496-12:2020. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
You can purchase ISO/IEC 14496-12:2022 directly from iTeh Standards. The document is available in PDF format and is delivered instantly after payment. Add the standard to your cart and complete the secure checkout process. iTeh Standards is an authorized distributor of ISO standards.
Standards Content (Sample)
INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 14496-12
Seventh edition
2022-01
Information technology — Coding of
audio-visual objects —
Part 12:
ISO base media file format
Technologies de l'information — Codage des objets audiovisuels —
Partie 12: Format ISO de base pour les fichiers médias
Reference number
© ISO/IEC 2022
© ISO/IEC 2022
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
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© ISO/IEC 2022 – All rights reserved
Contents Page
Foreword .x
Introduction .xi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms . 2
3.1 Terms and definitions . 2
3.2 Abbreviated terms . 7
4 Object-structured file organization .7
4.1 File structure . 7
4.2 Object structure . 7
4.2.1 Object syntax conventions . 7
4.2.2 Object definitions . . 8
4.2.3 Extensibility of object definitions . 9
4.3 File-type box . 10
4.3.1 Definition . 10
4.3.2 Syntax . . 10
4.3.3 Semantics . 11
4.4 Extended type box . . . 11
4.4.1 Definition . 11
4.4.2 Syntax . . 11
4.4.3 Semantics . 11
5 Structure of this document .12
6 ISO base media file organization .12
6.1 Files, segments, and streams .12
6.2 Presentation structure . 13
6.2.1 Object structure of a presentation . 13
6.2.2 Meta data and media data . 13
6.3 Structure-data (objects) . 13
6.3.1 Box . .13
6.3.2 Data types and fields .13
6.3.3 URIs as type indicators . . 14
6.3.4 Box order .15
6.4 Time structure overview . 18
6.5 Identifiers . 19
6.6 Brand identification . 19
6.7 Uniform resource locators (URLs) . 19
7 Streaming support .19
8 Box structures .19
8.1 File structure and general boxes . 19
8.1.1 Media data box . 19
8.1.2 Free space box . 20
8.1.3 Progressive download information box . 20
8.1.4 Identified media data box . 21
8.2 Movie structure . 21
8.2.1 Movie box . 21
8.2.2 Movie header box . 21
8.3 Track structure . 23
8.3.1 Track box . 23
8.3.2 Track header box . 23
8.3.3 Track reference box. 26
8.3.4 Track group box . .28
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© ISO/IEC 2022 – All rights reserved
8.3.5 Track type box .29
8.4 Track media structure . 30
8.4.1 Media box .30
8.4.2 Media header box .30
8.4.3 Handler reference box . 31
8.4.4 Media information box . 32
8.4.5 Media information header boxes . 32
8.4.6 Extended language tag . 32
8.5 Sample tables . 33
8.5.1 Sample table box .33
8.5.2 Sample description box .34
8.5.3 Degradation priority box . 36
8.5.4 Sample scale box .36
8.6 Track time structures .36
8.6.1 Time to sample boxes .36
8.6.2 Sync sample box . 41
8.6.3 Shadow sync . 42
8.6.4 Independent and disposable samples box . 43
8.6.5 Edit box . 45
8.6.6 Edit list box . 45
8.7 Track data layout structures .48
8.7.1 Data information box.48
8.7.2 Data reference box .48
8.7.3 Sample size boxes .50
8.7.4 Sample to chunk box . 51
8.7.5 Chunk offset box . 52
8.7.6 Padding bits box . 52
8.7.7 Sub-sample information box . 53
8.7.8 Sample auxiliary information sizes box .54
8.7.9 Sample auxiliary information offsets box.56
8.8 Movie fragments . 57
8.8.1 Movie extends box . 57
8.8.2 Movie extends header box .58
8.8.3 Track extends box .58
8.8.4 Movie fragment box . 59
8.8.5 Movie fragment header box .60
8.8.6 Track fragment box .60
8.8.7 Track fragment header box .60
8.8.8 Track fragment run box . . 62
8.8.9 Movie fragment random access box .63
8.8.10 Track fragment random access box .64
8.8.11 Movie fragment random access offset box .65
8.8.12 Track fragment decode time box .65
8.8.13 Level assignment box .66
8.8.14 Sample auxiliary information in movie fragments.68
8.8.15 Track Extension Properties box.68
8.8.16 Alternative startup sequence properties box .68
8.8.17 Metadata and user data in movie fragments . 69
8.9 Sample group structures . 70
8.9.1 Overview . 70
8.9.2 Sample to group box . 70
8.9.3 Sample group description box .72
8.9.4 Representation of group structures in movie fragments .74
8.9.5 Compact sample to group box . 75
8.10 User data .77
8.10.1 User data box .77
8.10.2 Copyright box .77
8.10.3 Track selection box . 78
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© ISO/IEC 2022 – All rights reserved
8.10.4 Track kind . 79
8.11 Metadata support .80
8.11.1 MetaBox .80
8.11.2 XML boxes . . . 81
8.11.3 Item location box .81
8.11.4 Primary item box .84
8.11.5 Item protection box .85
8.11.6 Item information box .85
8.11.7 Additional metadata container box .87
8.11.8 Metabox Relation box .87
8.11.9 URL forms for MetaBoxes .88
8 .11.10 St at ic me t ad at a .88
8.11.11 Item data box .89
8.11.12 Item reference box .89
8.11.13 Auxiliary video metadata .90
8.11.14 Item properties box .90
8.11.15 Brand item property . 92
8.12 Support for protected streams. 93
8.12.1 Overview . 93
8.12.2 Protection scheme information box .94
8.12.3 Original format box .94
8.12.4 IPMPInfoBox . 95
8.12.5 IPMP control box . 95
8.12.6 Scheme type box . 95
8.12.7 Scheme information box . 95
8.12.8 Scramble Scheme Information Box .96
8.13 File delivery format support .96
8.13.1 Overview .96
8.13.2 FD item information box . 97
8.13.3 File partition box .97
8.13.4 FEC reservoir box .99
8.13.5 FD session group box .99
8.13.6 Group ID to name box . .100
8.13.7 File reservoir box . 101
8.14 Sub tracks . 101
8.14.1 Overview . 101
8.14.2 Backward compatibility .102
8.14.3 Sub track box.102
8.14.4 Sub track information box .102
8.14.5 Sub track definition box .103
8.14.6 Sub track sample group box .104
8.15 Post-decoder requirements on media .104
8.15.1 General .104
8.15.2 Restricted sample entry transformation .105
8.15.3 Restricted scheme information box .105
8.15.4 Scheme for stereoscopic video arrangements .106
8.15.5 Compatible scheme type box .108
8.16 Segments .108
8.16.1 Overview .108
8.16.2 Segment type box .108
8.16.3 Segment index box .109
8.16.4 Subsegment index box .112
8.16.5 Producer reference time box . 114
8.17 Support for incomplete tracks .115
8.17.1 General .115
8.17.2 Transformation . 116
8.17.3 Complete track information box. 116
8.18 Entity grouping . 117
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© ISO/IEC 2022 – All rights reserved
8.18.1 General . 117
8.18.2 Groups list box . 117
8.18.3 Entity to group box . 117
8.19 Compressed boxes . 118
8.19.1 Overview and processing . 118
8.19.2 Processing model . 119
8.19.3 General syntax.120
8.19.4 General semantics .120
8.19.5 Original file-type box .120
8.19.6 Compressed movie box .121
8.19.7 Compressed movie fragment box .121
8.19.8 Compressed segment index box .121
8.19.9 Compressed subsegment index box .122
9 Hint track formats . 122
9.1 RTP and SRTP hint track format .122
9.1.1 Overview .122
9.1.2 Sample description format .123
9.1.3 Sample format .124
9.1.4 SDP information .127
9.1.5 Statistical information .127
9.2 ALC/LCT and FLUTE hint track format .128
9.2.1 Overview .128
9.2.2 Design principles .129
9.2.3 Sample description format .130
9.2.4 Sample format .130
9.3 MPEG-2 transport hint track format .133
9.3.1 Overview .133
9.3.2 Design principles .134
9.3.3 Sample description format .135
9.3.4 Sample format .137
9.3.5 Protected MPEG 2 transport stream hint track .139
9.4 RTP, RTCP, SRTP and SRTCP reception hint tracks .140
9.4.1 RTP reception hint track .140
9.4.2 RTCP reception hint track . 143
9.4.3 SRTP reception hint track .144
9.4.4 SRTCP reception hint tracks .146
9.4.5 Protected RTP reception hint track . 147
9.4.6 Recording procedure . 147
9.4.7 Parsing procedure . . 147
10 Sample groups .147
10.1 Random access recovery points . 147
10.1.1 Definition . 147
10.1.2 Syntax . .148
10.1.3 Semantics .148
10.2 Rate share groups .148
10.2.1 Overview .148
10.2.2 Rate share sample group entry . 149
10.2.3 Relationship between tracks .150
10.2.4 Bitrate allocation.151
10.3 Alternative startup sequences . 151
10.3.1 Definition . 151
10.3.2 Syntax . .152
10.3.3 Semantics .152
10.3.4 Examples .152
10.4 Random access point (RAP) sample group .154
10.4.1 Definition .154
10.4.2 Syntax . .154
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© ISO/IEC 2022 – All rights reserved
10.4.3 Semantics .154
10.5 Temporal level sample group .154
10.5.1 Definition .154
10.5.2 Syntax . .155
10.5.3 Semantics .155
10.6 Stream access point sample group .155
10.6.1 Definition .155
10.6.2 Syntax . .155
10.6.3 Semantics .155
10.7 Sample-to-item sample group .156
10.7.1 Definition .156
10.7.2 Syntax . .156
10.7.3 Semantics .156
10.8 Dependent random access point (DRAP) sample group .156
10.8.1 Definition .
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