HTML Video Player Guide

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of how to embed and control video playback in HTML using the <video> element. It’s designed for beginners who want to understand the basics of using video in web pages.

Key Concepts

• HTML Video Element: The <video> tag is used to display video content on a webpage.
• Attributes: The <video> element has several attributes that control its behavior and appearance.

Important Attributes

• src: Specifies the path to the video file.
• controls: Adds play, pause, and volume controls for the user.
• autoplay: The video starts playing automatically when the page loads.
• loop: The video will restart automatically when it ends.
• muted: The video will play without sound.

Basic Example

Here is a simple example of how to embed a video:

<video width="640" height="360" controls>
  <source src="movie.mp4" type="video/mp4">
  <source src="movie.ogg" type="video/ogg">
  Your browser does not support the video tag.
</video>

Explanation of the Example

• The width and height attributes set the dimensions of the video player.
• The <source> tags specify different video formats for compatibility with various browsers.
• The fallback message ("Your browser does not support the video tag.") appears if the video cannot be played.

Browser Compatibility

• Different browsers may support different video formats. The most commonly supported formats are MP4, WebM, and Ogg.
• Always provide multiple formats to ensure the video plays across different web browsers.

Conclusion

Using the <video> element is a straightforward way to add video content to your website. By utilizing various attributes, you can customize the video player to enhance user experience.