---
-title: Types and Properties
+title: Media Types and Properties
...
-# Types and Properties
+# Media Types and Properties
-There is a very large set of possible types that may be used to pass
+There is a very large set of possible media types that may be used to pass
data between elements. Indeed, each new element that is defined may use
a new data format (though unless at least one other element recognises
that format, it will be most likely be useless since nothing will be
able to link with it).
-In order for types to be useful, and for systems like autopluggers to
-work, it is necessary that all elements agree on the type definitions,
-and which properties are required for each type. The GStreamer framework
-itself simply provides the ability to define types and parameters, but
-does not fix the meaning of types and parameters, and does not enforce
-standards on the creation of new types. This is a matter for a policy to
+In order for media types to be useful, and for systems like autopluggers to
+work, it is necessary that all elements agree on the media type definitions,
+and which properties are required for each media type. The GStreamer framework
+itself simply provides the ability to define media types and parameters, but
+does not fix the meaning of media types and parameters, and does not enforce
+standards on the creation of new media types. This is a matter for a policy to
decide, not technical systems to enforce.
For now, the policy is simple:
- - Do not create a new type if you could use one which already exists.
+ - Do not create a new media type if you could use one which already exists.
- - If creating a new type, discuss it first with the other GStreamer
+ - If creating a new media type, discuss it first with the other GStreamer
developers, on at least one of: IRC, mailing lists.
- Try to ensure that the name for a new format is as unlikely to
or "audio/compressed" could exist and have a property indicating the
type of compression used.
- - Ensure that, when you do create a new type, you specify it clearly,
- and get it added to the list of known types so that other developers
- can use the type correctly when writing their elements.
+ - Ensure that, when you do create a new media type, you specify it clearly,
+ and get it added to the list of known media types so that other developers
+ can use the media type correctly when writing their elements.
## Building a Simple Format for Testing
Autoplugging has been discussed in great detail in the Application
Development Manual.
-## List of Defined Types
+## List of Defined Media Types
Below is a list of all the defined types in GStreamer. They are split up
in separate tables for audio, video, container, subtitle and other