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I-Frame (Intra-Coded Frame)

Definition

A video frame that is encoded entirely from its own pixel data, without reference to any other frame. I-frames mark the start of a new compression group-of-pictures (GOP) and are the reset points for inter-frame prediction.

Related terms

P-Frame (Predictive Frame)
A frame encoded as a set of changes relative to a preceding reference frame. P-frames are smaller than I-frames because they only...
Bitrate Anomaly
A departure from the expected relationship between scene complexity and compressed file size. Sudden drops, plateaux, or spikes in the per-second bitrate...
Double Compression
The condition in which a video has been encoded at least twice through a lossy codec. The term is also used loosely...
Group of Pictures (GOP)
The periodic structure of I-frames, P-frames, and B-frames in a compressed video stream. Each encoding generation imposes its own GOP structure. When...
Hash Verification
The process of computing a cryptographic hash (SHA-256 or equivalent) of the exhibit file and comparing it against a previously recorded value...
Inter-Frame Residual
The pixel-level difference between a predicted frame and the actual frame after decoding. In unmodified video, residuals at scene cuts are elevated...
Motion Vector Consistency
In unmodified video, motion vectors across consecutive frames track the same objects and follow smooth trajectories. A deleted or inserted frame breaks...
Presentation Timestamp (PTS)
A value stored in the container for each packet indicating when that frame should be displayed. In an unmodified recording, PTS values...
Re-Recording Artefact
A visual or statistical signature introduced by pointing a camera at a screen playing back footage. Includes moiré patterns, screen reflections, temporal...

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