ISO IEC 23094-1-2020 PDF

Full title and description

Information technology — General video coding — Part 1: Essential video coding. This international standard (ISO/IEC 23094-1:2020) specifies the Essential Video Coding (EVC) technology: the bitstream syntax and semantics and an associated decoding process that defines profiles, levels and toolsets to ensure conformance across implementations.

Abstract

ISO/IEC 23094-1:2020 defines a video coding technology known as Essential Video Coding (EVC). The document specifies syntax, semantics and an associated decoding process designed to guarantee that conforming decoders produce identical cropped decoded output pictures for a given bitstream. EVC targets a wide range of applications including digital storage media, television broadcasting and real‑time communications.

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: 29 October 2020 (Edition 1, 2020).
• Publisher: ISO and IEC (ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29).
• ICS / categories: 35.040.40 (coding of audio, picture, multimedia and hypermedia information).
• Edition / version: 1 (2020).
• Number of pages: 416 pages.

This standard has one published amendment (ISO/IEC 23094-1:2020/Amd 1:2023 — Green metadata supplemental enhancement information).

Scope

Specifies the Essential Video Coding (EVC) technology: bitstream syntax and semantics and the decoding process that defines profiles, levels and toolsets. The standard is intended to be applicable to multiple application domains (storage, broadcasting, streaming and real‑time communications) and to provide a robust, interoperable definition of the decoder behaviour to guarantee conformity between implementations.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition of EVC bitstream syntax, semantics and conformance rules.
• Decoding process that guarantees identical decoded output for conforming decoders (profiles, levels, toolsets).
• Design approach separating baseline toolset and optional enhanced tools (to address patent/royalty considerations and implementation flexibility).
• Support for a wide range of use cases: digital storage, broadcast, streaming and real‑time communications.
• Provision for supplemental metadata (green metadata amendment) to support sustainability-related signalling and related extensions.

These topics derive from the MPEG/ISO work on MPEG‑5 (EVC is MPEG‑5 Part 1) and the published ISO specification.

Typical use and users

Typical users include codec implementers, semiconductor and SoC designers, streaming and OTT service providers, broadcasters, video encoding software vendors, and device manufacturers who need an interoperable video codec definition for delivery, storage or real‑time communications. EVC is used where a standardized balance of compression efficiency, implementation complexity and IP/licensing considerations is required.

Related standards

ISO/IEC 23094 is the MPEG‑5 series. Closely related parts include: ISO/IEC 23094‑2 (MPEG‑5 Part 2 — Low Complexity Enhancement Video Coding, LCEVC) and parts addressing conformance and reference software. EVC is positioned alongside other modern video coding efforts (AVC/H.264, HEVC/H.265, VVC/H.266, AV1) as part of the ecosystem of video coding standards and enhancement technologies. The standard family also includes published amendments (e.g., green metadata).

Keywords

Essential Video Coding, EVC, MPEG‑5 Part 1, ISO/IEC 23094-1:2020, video coding, codec, bitstream syntax, decoder conformance, profiles and levels, green metadata, amendment 2023.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/IEC 23094-1:2020 is the international standard that defines Essential Video Coding (EVC), a video compression specification (bitstream syntax, semantics and decoding process) published in October 2020.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the EVC bitstream format, semantics and a decoding process ensuring conformance (profiles, levels and toolsets), and is intended for applications such as storage, broadcasting, streaming and real‑time communications. The standard also accepts supplemental enhancements via amendments (for example, green metadata).

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Codec developers, hardware and SoC designers, streaming and broadcast service providers, OTT platforms, and researchers or labs working on video compression and delivery.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The standard was published in 2020 (Edition 1) and remains current; it has been maintained via at least one amendment published in 2023 (Amd 1). As with all ISO standards, it is subject to periodic review.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO/IEC 23094 is the MPEG‑5 family. Part 1 is EVC; Part 2 is LCEVC (Low Complexity Enhancement Video Coding); other parts address conformance and reference software.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Essential Video Coding, EVC, MPEG‑5 Part 1, video codec, bitstream syntax, decoder conformance, profiles, levels, toolset, green metadata, ISO/IEC 23094.