openh264
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Description:
H.264 codec from Cisco
Type: Formula  |  Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Multimedia
Tags: video codec h264 multimedia webrtc encoding
Install: brew install openh264
About:
OpenH264 is a free, open-source library that implements the H.264 video compression standard. Developed by Cisco, it provides a high-performance codec that enables real-time video encoding and decoding for web and native applications. Its primary value is enabling WebRTC functionality in browsers and applications by providing a royalty-free implementation of the widely used H.264 standard.
Key Features:
  • Implements H.264/AVC Baseline Profile for encoding and decoding
  • Optimized for real-time, low-latency video communication
  • Royalty-free implementation provided by Cisco
  • Supports WebRTC standards for browser-based video
  • Cross-platform compatibility
Use Cases:
  • WebRTC-based video conferencing and chat applications
  • Real-time video streaming in native applications
  • Video encoding/decoding for embedded systems and mobile devices
  • Browser-based video communication tools
Alternatives:
  • x264 – x264 is a high-performance H.264 encoder but requires royalty payments for commercial use
  • libvpx – VP8/VP9 codec from Google, royalty-free but with different compression characteristics and compatibility
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Oct 26, 2024 9:34pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 588e53b5