How to Use FFmpeg -h to View Supported Codecs

This article explains how to use the -h (help) parameter in FFmpeg to view detailed help and configuration options for all supported codecs. You will learn the exact command-line syntax to list general help, access full codec documentation, and query help for specific encoders or decoders.

Using the FFmpeg Help Parameter for Codecs

While the standard ffmpeg -codecs command lists all installed codecs, you must use the -h parameter to view detailed help, options, and supported parameters for those codecs.

1. View Full Help for All Codecs and Formats

To output the complete, unabridged help documentation—which includes all global options, basic codec details, and advanced configurations—use the full argument with the -h parameter:

ffmpeg -h full

Note: This outputs a very large amount of text. It is recommended to pipe the output into a pager like less or more to scroll through it:

ffmpeg -h full | less

2. View Help for a Specific Codec

To view the detailed help and configuration options for a specific codec, use the codec argument followed by the codec name:

ffmpeg -h codec=codec_name

Example (H.264):

ffmpeg -h codec=h264

3. View Help for a Specific Encoder

If you want to view the help options for a specific encoding library (such as libx264 or libvpx-vp9), use the encoder argument:

ffmpeg -h encoder=encoder_name

Example (libx264):

ffmpeg -h encoder=libx264

4. View Help for a Specific Decoder

To view the help and decodable formats for a specific decoding library, use the decoder argument:

ffmpeg -h decoder=decoder_name

Example (AAC):

ffmpeg -h decoder=aac