A video format define the resolution, aspect ratio, and frame rate of the video.
A digital video resolution just refers to the image resolution, omitting other video format characteristics as aspect ratio and frame rate.
Do not confuse a video format with a video coding format.
List of Video Formats
Video formats featured in this post:
- SIF
- QSIF
- 2SIF
- CIF
- QCIF
- SQCIF
- 4CIF
- SD
- HD
- Full HD
- UHD
SIF and CIF-based formats are considered legacy formats. Those formats from HD are considered modern formats.
Some characteristics like the resolution may be different depending on the TV broadcast standard (NTSC, PAL or SECAM).
SIF
Source Input Format (SIF) are defined in the MPEG-1 standard.
NTSC-SIF resolution: 352 × 240
PAL/SECAM-SIF resolution: 352 × 288
QSIF
Quarter SIF (QSIF)
2SIF
2SIF defines a resolution of 352×480.
CIF
Common intermediate format (CIF) is also known as full common intermediate format (FCIF).
It was defined in H.261 in 1981.
It was used in videoconferencing systems.
SQCIF
Sub QCIF (SQCIF) has a resolution of 128×96.
QCIF
Quarter CIF (QCIF) has a resolution of 176×144.
4CIF
4CIF or Super CIF has a resolution of 704 × 576.
SD
Standard Definition (SD)
HD
High Definition (HD)
Full HD
Full HD
UHD
Ultra HD (UHD) includes 4K and 8K resolutions.