Windows Multimedia Format

Windows Media files have these extensions: .asf, .asx, .wma, and .wmv.

ASF Format

ASF Format (Advanced Streaming Format) is designed specifically for operation on the Internet.

ASF files contain audio, video, slide shows, and synchronized events.

ASF files can be deeply compressed while being able to transmit as a continuous data stream (online TV and broadcasting). Files of this format can be any size and can be compressed to adapt to different bandwidths (connection speeds).

ASX Format

ASX (Advanced Stream Redirector) files are not media files, but metadata files.

Metadata files provide information about the files. ASX files are plain text files used to describe multimedia content:

<ASX VERSION="3.0">
<Title>Holiday 2001</Title>
<Entry>
    <ref href="holiday-1.avi"/>
</Entry>
<Entry>
    <ref href="holiday-2.avi"/>
</Entry>
<Entry>
    <ref href="holiday-2.avi"/>
</Entry>
</ASX>

The above file describes three multimedia files. When the ASX file is read by the player, the player can play the described files.

WMA Format

WMA (Windows Media Audio) format is an audio format developed by Microsoft.

The design goal of WMA (Windows Media Audio) format is to handle various types of audio content. The files of this format can be deeply compressed and can transmit continuous data streams (online broadcasting). WMA files can be any size and can be compressed to adapt to different bandwidths (connection speeds).

WMA format is similar to ASF format (see above content).

WMV Format

WMV (Windows Media Video) format is a video format developed by Microsoft.

The design goal of WMV (Windows Media Video) format is to handle various types of video content. The files of this format can be deeply compressed and can transmit continuous data streams (online broadcasting). WMA files can be any size and can be compressed to adapt to different bandwidths (connection speeds).

WMV format is similar to ASF format (see above content).

Other Windows Media Formats

WAX (Windows Media Audio Redirector) files are very similar to ASX files, but are intended to describe audio files (.wma files).

WMP (Windows Media Player) files and WMX are reserved file types for future use by Microsoft.