Decode an unknow file format

[jassing]

A program or dll that "plays a lot of formats" doesn't "play all unknown formats' -- it only plays known formats. (And specifically, only format that "it" knows, as opposed to all known formats...)

[boku]

So for example ...

VLC Media Player ... it doesn't just know how to play nearly all types of media. It has been told by the programmers.

If it is AI you're interested in ... then check out this reliable source [reliable source]

...sorry I couldn't resist adding my 2 cents.

[longedge]

Doesn't the header of most multimedia files describe what they are JFIF for instance indicates a jpeg image. Other embedded information presumably provides essential information for players such as bit rates, resolution etc.

That's how I, as a novice, understand it anyway. I know that with video for example, as long as it's encoded correctly, it doesn't matter if you change a filename extension to say .avi from .mpg.