RIFFbaserad

RIFFbaserad, or RIFF-based, refers to data formats that use the RIFF (Resource Interchange File Format) container architecture. RIFF was developed by Microsoft and IBM in the early 1990s to provide a simple, extensible way to store multimedia data. A RIFF-based file begins with the ASCII code RIFF, followed by a 4-byte unsigned size and a four-character form type such as WAVE or AVI. The remainder consists of chunks, each with a four-character ID, a 4-byte size, and a payload. Chunks may be simple data chunks or contain nested LIST chunks for metadata.

Key structural elements include the fmt chunk, which stores format information (for example audio format, number of channels, sample rate, and bit depth), the data chunk containing the raw media payload, and LIST chunks used for metadata or extended information. Chunks are typically aligned to even byte boundaries, and the format supports easy streaming and random access to media data. Some forms also provide padding for alignment.

Common RIFF-based formats include WAV, an audio format that typically stores uncompressed or PCM audio, AVI, a container for multiplexed audio and video streams, and WebP, an image format that uses the RIFF container to hold compressed image data along with metadata. RF64 is an extension that allows RIFF files to exceed the original 4 GB size limit by using 64-bit sizes.

RIFF-based formats are characterized by their simplicity, wide compatibility, and straightforward parsing, which makes them well-suited for streaming and playback in many legacy and some modern multimedia pipelines. They are less commonly used for new archival or high-efficiency media workflows compared to more modern containers, but they remain in use in various audio and video applications.