XviD

XViD is a reverse engineered H262/H263 video codec used for AV files. Often it is pared with MP2, MP3, and later OGG audio in an XViD (AVI) container.

XViD was the end result of of a combination of insider stolen information and clean room reverse engineering. Occasionally found in contemporary file sharing circles it found the most use as XVCD format iso files: a bitrate variation of VCD. XViD found popularity with a few DVD compression programs such as RatDvD. The xvid file format was close enough that most VCD players and nearly all SVCD/EVCD player had no problems with playback of recorded discs. Changing the XViD extension to avi allow e playback on all contemporary operating systems that supported the avi format. Xvcd uses XViD video and audio.

In the late 90s and early 20000s both BlockBuster and Family Video experimented with disposable rental discs that used the XViD/xvcd format. Self-degrading discs that could be rented from a kiosk and recycled curbside. The XViD format was also a primary target in the SD card forms for pay once copy never distribution.

The XViD format in all its variations died with the combination of the death of Meganova and Mininova torrent sites and the much superior X264 format. Itself replace by x265 and now AV1