Video API
Premium Feature
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The Imgix Video API allows you to optimize and serve video to your users. Using our URL-based API, you can leverage Adaptive Bitrate Streaming, transcode your videos, generate thumbnails, and apply various transformations to your video content.
The Video API comes in two flavors:
- Long-Form Video: Best suited for videos longer than 5 minutes. Leverage HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) for adaptive bitrate streaming, which allows for smooth playback across different network conditions and devices. This format is ideal for longer content, such as movies, documentaries, or educational videos.
- Short-Form Video: Best suited for videos shorter than 5 minutes. Leverages the MP4 format, which is more efficient for shorter content. This format is ideal for quick playback on your website or app as video clips background videos.
Feature Comparison Chart
| Feature | Long-Form Video | Short-Form Video |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Bitrate Streaming (ABS) | X | |
| Transcoding into different video types | X | |
| Storyboard generation | X | |
| GIF conversion | X | |
| Video watermarking | X | |
| Auto-generated captions | X | |
| Video subtitles | X | |
| Resolution selection | X | |
Served through .video | X | |
| Thumbnail generation | X | X |
| Instant availability | X | |
| Bitrate selection | X | |
| Codec selection | X | |
| Signing | X | |
| Video resizing | X | |
| Clipping | X | |
Served through .net | X | |
| Supports custom domains | X |
Which Version of the Video API Should I Use?
Whether you use Long-Form Video or Short-Form Video depends on the user experience you want to provide to your users.
Long-Form Video
Long-Form Video utilizes adaptive bitrate streaming which is ideal for long videos that require a smooth playback experience across different network conditions and devices. This is especially important for content that is longer than 5 minutes, such as movies, documentaries, or educational videos.
However, the Long-Form Video experience is not as instantaneous as Short-Form Video since it requires transcoding prior to playback. It also requires a specialized video player to manage playback, as the HLS format is not supported natively by all modern browsers. For videos with a shorter duration, loading the video player library and transcoding will offset the benefits of adaptive bitrate streaming.
Short-Form Video
Short-Form Video is ideal for for quick playback on your website or app. They are best suited for videos that are shorter than 5 minutes, such as video clips, GIFs, or background videos. Short-Form Video is served through the .net subdomain, supports custom domains and is available instantly without transcoding.
If you are serving long videos, such as movies or documentaries, and want to provide a smooth playback experience across different network conditions and devices, use Long-Form Video.
If your videos are shorter than 5 minutes and comprise of clips, GIFs, or background videos, use Short-Form Video.