Video Download Glossary: MP4, Bitrate, Watermark & More

Aspect ratio: The shape of a video, written width:height. TikTok, Reels and Shorts use 9:16 (tall); YouTube and TVs use 16:9 (wide). Learn more
Bitrate: How much data is used per second of video or audio, in kbps or Mbps. Higher bitrate means bigger files and usually better quality. Learn more
Bulk download: Saving many videos in one go by pasting several links at once. Learn more
Caption: The text a creator writes under a post. Also used for on-screen subtitles. Learn more
Codec: The method used to compress video or audio. H.264 and AAC are the most widely supported. Learn more
Cover image (thumbnail): The still frame shown on a profile grid before a video plays. Learn more
Creator: The person or account that made and posted a video. Credit them when you share their work. Learn more
DMCA: A US law with a takedown process for copyrighted material. Platforms use it to remove reuploads. Learn more
Draft: A TikTok you edited but did not post. Drafts live only on your phone. Learn more
Duet: A TikTok feature that places your video side by side with someone else's. Learn more
Fair use: A legal idea (in the US and some other countries) that allows limited use of copyrighted work for commentary, criticism or teaching. Learn more
Frame rate (fps): How many pictures per second a video shows. 30 fps is standard; 60 fps looks smoother. Learn more
GIF: A short, silent, looping image format. Much bigger than an MP4 of the same clip. Learn more
HD (720p / 1080p): High definition. 720p is 1280×720 pixels, 1080p is 1920×1080 (or 1080×1920 for vertical video). Learn more
Link (share URL): The web address of a single post, copied with Share → Copy link. Downloaders need it to find the video. Learn more
MP3: The most common audio file format. Plays in every music app and device. Learn more
MP4: The most common video file format. Plays on phones, computers, editors and TVs. Learn more
Original sound: Audio recorded or uploaded by a TikTok creator rather than chosen from the music library. Learn more
Private account: An account whose posts only approved followers can see. Private posts cannot be downloaded. Learn more
Profile picture (PFP): The round avatar on an account. Shown small in apps, but stored in a larger size. Learn more
Public post: A post anyone can see without logging in or following. Only public posts can be saved by downloaders. Learn more
Reel: Instagram's and Facebook's short vertical video format. Learn more
Repost: Sharing someone else's post again, inside the app or on another platform. Needs permission outside the app's own repost button. Learn more
Resolution: The number of pixels in a video frame, such as 1080 × 1920. Learn more
Safe zone: The middle area of a vertical video not covered by buttons, captions and the username. Learn more
Slideshow (photo mode): A TikTok post made of several still images with music, swiped like a carousel. Learn more
Spotlight: Snapchat's public feed of short videos. Learn more
SRT: A plain-text subtitle file with numbered lines and time codes. Learn more
Stitch: A TikTok feature that lets you start your video with a clip from someone else's. Learn more
Story: A post that disappears after 24 hours, on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat. Learn more
Watermark: The moving TikTok logo and username added to videos saved through the app. Learn more
WAV: An uncompressed audio format used in music production. Much larger than MP3. Learn more

Video download glossary

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