Opus is a free and open audio codec designed for interactive speech and music transmission over the Internet. Developed by the Xiph Foundation, it offers high-quality audio, low latency, and efficient compression, making it ideal for VoIP, streaming, and real-time applications.
History
Opus development started around 2007 and it had its first release in 2012. The codec was standardized by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) as RFC 6716. Opus was created to handle a wide range of audio applications, from low-bitrate voice communications to high-quality music streaming. It combines elements of Skype's SILK codec and Xiph's CELT codec, providing flexibility, low latency, and high-quality audio across varying bitrates. Opus has been widely adopted in real-time applications such as VoIP, video conferencing, and live streaming due to its superior performance and versatility. Major platforms and applications like WebRTC, Discord, and Mozilla Firefox support Opus, further cementing its role in modern audio technology.
