Understanding FLV and SWF - The Basics of Flash Video

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If there are any non-technical folks out there that have been wondering what the heck the difference is between FLV (Flash Video) and SWF (Shockwave Flash) file formats, you are in luck.  In this short video from Sorenson Media, Technical Support Specialist Jeff Udall provides a quick overview and helps to explain how FLV and SWF formats work together to create the Adobe Flash online video experience.

Flash, uses 2 types of files to deliver video, a player file, and a video file.  The video file, a flv mp4 or f4v is played back by the player, a swf file, with the flash web browser plugin.  The SWF file contains the frame and player controls that the viewer interacts with.  You can think of the swf as the player you typically see embedded on web pages, while the flv, mp4 or f4v is the actual video file that is loaded and plays.

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About the Author - Mark R Robertson
Mark Robertson is the Founder and Publisher of ReelSEO, an online information resource dedicated to the fusion of video, technology, social media, search, and internet marketing. He is a professional online video marketing consultant and video SEO expert, popular speaker, and considered to be a passionate leader within the online video and search marketing industries. Follow Mark on Twitter (@markrrobertson), or Google+. - View All Posts By Mark R Robertson