VideoLAN

VideoLAN is a French nonprofit organization that coordinates the development of open-source multimedia software. Based in Paris, it supports and directs several software projects, the most prominent being the VLC media player, a cross-platform multimedia player and framework used to view, play, and stream digital audio and video.

The organization originated as a collaborative project developing free software for streaming and playback. The VLC media player emerged as the flagship project of VideoLAN and has grown to run on a wide range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. The software is designed to support a large number of audio and video formats and streaming protocols via a modular architecture, including the component libVLC that exposes a portable core to other applications.

VideoLAN operates as a volunteer-driven, community-led project. It publishes its software under open-source licenses, with development coordinated by a governance board and a global community of contributors, translators, and testers. Funding for operations typically comes from donations, sponsorships, and community partnerships.

The organization is known for its emphasis on freedom of use, interoperability, and privacy-respecting software. VLC is widely deployed in consumer and educational settings, and VideoLAN continues to maintain and expand its software ecosystem through ongoing development and international collaboration.