Wikimedia Commons uses open formats like MP3, Ogg Vorbis and WAV for sound files and WebM and Ogg Theora for video files.

These file types are preferred to other, more common file types, because they are not encumbered with patents. You can learn in the following pages which software and which codecs you need to play our media files.

The latest versions of all major desktop web browsers and Android are able to play uploaded sound files and videos without any additional codecs or software. Mobile devices like iOS use additional software that makes playback on those devices less efficient.

If you are looking for help creating or editing media files, see Commons:Software and Commons:Video/Commons:Audio.