Web Optimized: what does it mean?

General questions or discussion about HandBrake, Video and/or audio transcoding, trends etc.
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FoxAdriano
Enlightened
Posts: 120
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2015 2:06 pm

Web Optimized: what does it mean?

Post by FoxAdriano »

Hi, I'm new here and on HandBrake in te "Summary" tab there is the option "Web Optimized". What does it mean please?
Even if I don't put the video on the web, is it better to flah that box? Will the colors be modified? Thanks for some info
Deleted User 11865

Re: Web Optimized: what does it mean?

Post by Deleted User 11865 »

Puts the index at the start of the file instead of the end. It will also help with streaming the file over a local network (e.g. using Plex, a DLNA server or anything equivalent).

Random-access local devices such as hard drives can seek to the end of the file almost instantly, but this isn't possible over the web, so having the index at the front end will make sure your file can start playing faster, among other things.
LunchboxFire
New User
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2018 6:31 pm

Re: Web Optimized: what does it mean?

Post by LunchboxFire »

That is good to know! Thank you, Rodeo.

Is there any downside for local hard drive access to have the index at the start of the file?
If there isn't, would there be any downside to having Handbrake defaulted to Web Optimized?
Deleted User 11865

Re: Web Optimized: what does it mean?

Post by Deleted User 11865 »

The downside to having it on used to be that the whole file had to be rewritten after the encode (to move the index from the end to the start of the file), requiring additional free disk space on the output hard drive otherwise the encode would fail.

Current versions of HandBrake reverse space at the start of the file and can "web-optimize" in place.
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