WebM Audio is a component of the WebM multimedia container format designed for the web. It typically uses the Opus codec for efficient audio compression, providing high-quality sound suitable for streaming and online audio applications. WebM Audio is open and royalty-free, widely supported by web browsers and media players.
History
WebM Audio, part of the WebM multimedia container format developed by Google, was released in May 2010 alongside its video counterpart. The audio streams within WebM files typically use the Vorbis codec or the Opus codec, both known for their high efficiency and quality. The integration of Opus in particular, standardized by the IETF in 2012, brought advancements in low-latency, high-quality audio streaming suitable for both music and speech. WebM Audio's development aimed to support open and royalty-free standards on the web, ensuring broad compatibility and performance across various devices and platforms. It has been widely adopted by major web browsers and platforms, including YouTube, further establishing its importance in web-based audio streaming.