What are codecs?

Question

I recieved an ".avi" file from a friend but my PC can't play it. So much confusion..

Answer 1

Codec is a portmanteau of either "Compressor-Decompressor" or "Coder-Decoder," which describes a device or program capable of performing transformations on a data stream or signal. Codecs can both put the stream or signal into an encoded form (often for transmission, storage or encryption) and retrieve, or decode that form for viewing or manipulation in a format more appropriate for these operations. Codecs are often used in videoconferencing and streaming media solutions.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codecs

Converters; http://www.google.com/search?q=codec%20converter&sourceid=groowe&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

Start your research here; http://www.google.com/search?q=what%20are%20codecs&sourceid=groowe&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

http://www.google.com/search?q=codecs&sourceid=groowe&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

Make it a great day!

Answer 2

Codecs ... COmpression DECompression schemes. the video version of jpeg, gif, png file compression.

You could have easily gotten this information from google and you can easily get the right codecs to play any and all video/audio from http://www.free-codecs.com/