File Extension .Mov

MOV stands for “movie” and files with this file extension are most commonly associated with the QuickTime application. MOV files are mostly video clips or multimedia files that are developed by the Apple Corporation. MOV files are generated using an Apple-proprietary compression algorithm which is compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems.

MOV files used in the QuickTime application are capable of storing not just one but two or more tracks in a single file. The tracks could be an audio data, a video data, texts, graphics and effects that are stored in a single MOV file. Because of this capability, the MOV file format is an ideal format for a wide variety of applications including audio and video editing. Every track in a MOV file may contain either of an encoded media stream or a link to a media stream that could be located in another file in the computer system; this allows for the embedding of existing media in the hard drive within another MOV file.

To open and play existing MOV files, users can use Apple’s QuickTime Player, but to edit and export a MOV file, the user must have Apple’s QuickTime Pro. The latter program also allows saving or downloading of MOV files online, a functionality that may not be available in an ordinary QuickTime Player. There is a codec however, called QuickTime Alternative, that allows opening and playing of QuickTime MOV files in other media playing applications like Media Player Classic. This codec is not licensed by Apple though and may not support all the features incorporated in a MOV file. Below are some other programs that can open a MOV file: