Video coding language relies on a rich set of acronyms which are used to describe tools, algorithms, modes, etc. Here, a selection of such acronyms is provided. The technology behind is detailed in the book. Some examples are also provided on this website.
Marked acronyms (*) indicate deprecated naming conventions or refer to tools which have not been adopted into the HEVC specification. If acronyms relate to the H.264/AVC specification, a corresponding indication is given.
| Acronym | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 3D-HEVC | 3D high efficiency video coding |
| AAC | Advanced audio coding |
| AAP | Alternative Approval Process |
| AhG | Ad hoc group |
| AI | All intra (JCT-VC CTC) |
| AIF* | Adaptive interpolation filter |
| ALF* | Adaptive loop filter |
| AMP | Asymmetric motion partitioning |
| AMVP | Advanced motion vector prediction |
| ANG* | Angular intra prediction |
| APS | Adaptation parameter set |
| ASO | Arbitrary slice ordering (H.264/AVC) |
| AU | Access unit |
| AUD | Access unit delimiter |
| AVC | Advanced video coding |
| BLA | Broken link access [picture] |
| BD | Bjøntegaard delta measurement |
| BL | Base layer |
| BO | SAO band offset |
| BoG | Break-out group |
| BP | Bandpass [filter] |
| BPB | Bitstream partition buffer |
| CABAC | Context-based adaptive binary arithmetic coding |
| CAVLC | Context adaptive variable length coding |
| CB | Coding Block |
| CBF* | Coded block flag |
| CBP | Coded block pattern (H.264/AVC) |
| CBR | Constant bitrate |
| CD | Committee draft |
| CD | Compact disk |
| CE | Core experiment |
| CfE | Call for evidence |
| CfP | Call for proposals |
| CIE | Commission internationale de l’éclairage |
| CIF | Common interchange format 352×288 |
| CPB | Coded picture buffer) |
| CRA | Clean random access point |
| CRFB* | Compressed reference frame buffer |
| CRT | Cathode ray tube |
| CS | Constraint set (in CfP) |
| CSS | Coded slice segment |
| CT | Collaborative team |
| CTB | Coding Tree Block |
| CTC | Common testing conditions |
| CTU | Coding Tree Unit |
| CTX | CABAC context |
| CU | Coding Unit |
| CVS | Coded Video Sequence |
| DAM | Draft amendment |
| DC | Direct current |
| DCT | Discrete cosine transform |
| DCTIF | DCT interpolation filter |
| DIF* | DCT interpolation filter, syn. DCTIF |
| DIF* | Directional interpolation filter |
| DIS | Draft international standard |
| DLP* | Decodable leading picture, syn. RADL |
| DMVD | Decoder side motion vector derivation |
| DPB | Decoded picture buffer |
| DPCM | Differential Pulse Code Modulation |
| DST | Discrete sine transform |
| DU | Decoding unit |
| DUT* | Directional unified transform |
| DVD | Digital Versatile Disk |
| EG | Exp-Golomb code |
| EL | Enhancement layer |
| EO | SAO edge offset |
| EOB | End of bitstream |
| EOS | End of sequence |
| EOTF | Electro-optical transfer function |
| FCD | Final committee draft |
| FD | Filler data |
| FDAM | Final draft amendment |
| FDIS | Final draft international standard |
| FLC | Fixed length code |
| FMO | Flexible macroblock ordering (H.264/AVC) |
| fps | Frames per second |
| FRExt | Fidelity range extensions (of H.264/AVC) |
| GRD | Gradual Decoder Refresh (H.264/AVC) |
| GOP | Group of pictures |
| HD | High definition |
| HDTV | High definition television |
| HEVC | High efficiency video coding |
| HM | HEVC test model |
| HP | Highpass [filter] |
| HRD | Hypothetical reference decoder |
| HSS | Hypothetical stream scheduler |
| HTM | 3D-HEVC test model |
| HVC* | High performance video coding (name of HEVC pre-project in MPEG) |
| HVS | Human visual system |
| IBDI* | Internal bit-depth increase |
| IDCT | Inverse discrete cosine transform |
| IDR | Instantaneous decoder refresh |
| IEC | International Electrotechnical Commission |
| IEEE | Institute of electrical and electronics engineers |
| IRAP | Intra random access point (see also RAP) |
| IS | International standard |
| ISDN | Integrated services digital network |
| ISO | International organization for standardization |
| ITU | International telecommunication union |
| JCT | Joint collaborative team (of ISO and ITU) |
| JCT-VC | Joint collaborative team on video coding |
| JCT-3V | Joint collaborative team on 3D video coding extension development |
| JM | Joint model (AVC test model) |
| JPEG | Joint photographic experts group |
| JTC | Joint technical committee |
| JVT | Joint video team |
| KLT | Karhunen-Loève transform |
| KTA | Key Technical Areas (H.264 based exploration software of VCEG) |
| LCTB* | Largest coded tree block, syn. CTB |
| LCTB* | Largest coded tree unit, syn. CTU |
| LCU* | Larges coding unit, syn. CTU |
| LD | Low delay (JCT-VC CTC) |
| LP | Lowpass [filter] |
| LPS | Least probably symbol |
| LSB | Least Significant Bit |
| MAC | Multiplexed analog components |
| MANE | Media aware network element |
| MB | Macroblock (H.264/AVC) |
| MBAFF | Macroblock adaptive frame/field coding (H.264/AVC) |
| MC | Motion compensation |
| MDDT* | Mode dependent directional transform |
| ME | Motion estimation |
| MMCO | Memory management control operation (H.264/AVC) |
| MP3 | MPEG-2 audio layer III |
| MPEG | Moving picture experts group |
| MPM | Most probable mode |
| MPS | Most probably symbol |
| MSB | Most Significant Bit |
| MSE | Mean squared error |
| MV | Motion vector |
| MVC | Multiview video coding (H.264/AVC) |
| MVD | Motion vector difference |
| MV-HEVC | Multiview high efficiency video coding |
| NAL | Network abstraction layer |
| NALU | NAL unit |
| NB | National body (in ISO) |
| NGVC* | Next generation video coding (name of HEVC pre-project in VCEG) |
| NTSC | National television systems committee |
| NUH | NAL unit header |
| NUT | NAL unit type |
| PAL | Phase alternating line |
| PAFF | Picture adaptive frame/field coding (H.264/AVC |
| PB | Prediction block |
| PCM | Pulse code modulation |
| PDAM | Proposed draft amendment |
| PPS | Picture parameter set |
| PSNR | Peak signal to noise ratio |
| POC | Picture order count |
| PU | Prediction unit |
| QCIF | Quarter common intermediate format 176×144 |
| QHD | Quarter High Definition 960×540 |
| QP | Quantization parameter |
| RA | Random access (JCT-VC CTC) |
| RADL | Random access decodable leading picture |
| RAP | Random access point |
| RASL | Random access decodable skipped picture |
| RBSP | Raw byte sequence payload |
| RD | Rate-distortion |
| RDO | Rate-distortion optimization |
| RDOQ | Rate-distortion optimized quantization |
| RExt | HEVC Range extensions |
| RGB | Red green blue, color format |
| RPL | Reference picture list |
| RPS | Reference picture set |
| RQT | Residual quadtree |
| RTP | Real-time transport protocol |
| SAD | Sum of absolute differences |
| SAO | Sample adaptive offset |
| SAR | Sample aspect ration |
| SATD | Sum of absolute transformed differences |
| SDH | Sign data hiding |
| SECAM | Séquentiel couleur à mémoire |
| SEI | Supplemental enhancement information |
| SC | Sub-committee |
| SD | Standard definition (TV) |
| SG | Study group |
| SHVC | Scalable high efficiency video coding |
| SODB | String of data bits |
| SOP | Structure of pictures, see also GOP |
| SPS | Sequence parameter set |
| SSD | Sum of squared differences |
| SSE | Sum of squared error |
| STSA | Stepwise temporal sub-layer access |
| SVC | Scalable video coding (H.264/AVC) |
| TB | Transform block |
| TE | Tool experiment |
| TFD* | Tagged for discard [picture], syn. RASL |
| TMuC | Test model under consideration |
| TMVP | Temporal motion vector predictor |
| TR | Truncated Rice [binarization] |
| TSA | Temporal sub-layer access |
| TSB | Transform sub-block |
| TSB | Telecommunication standardization bureau |
| TU | Transform unit |
| TV | Television |
| UHD | Ultra High Definition |
| VBR | Variable bitrate |
| VCEG | Visual coding experts group |
| VCL | Video Coding Layer |
| VGA | Video Graphics Array 640×480 |
| VLC | Variable length code |
| VPS | Video parameter set |
| VUI | Video usability information |
| WD | Working draft |
| WG | Working group |
| WPP | Wavefront parallel processing |
| XGA | Extended Graphics Array 1024×768 |
| XYZ | XYZ color space |
| YUV | Color format with luma and two chroma components |
| YCbCr | Color format with luma and two chroma components |