What is a VOB file?
VOB — DVD video
What is it?
VOB is the format used by video DVDs. It's the file you find in the VIDEO_TS folder of a disc: it holds the picture, sound, subtitles, and menus.
It relies on the MPEG-2 codec, which is light on processing power but heavy on storage — which is why a film can take up several gigabytes where a modern MP4 would manage with a few hundred megabytes.
History & origin
The format was born alongside the DVD in 1996 and dominated home video until Blu-ray and downloading came along.
Its most visible quirk — splitting the film into chunks under one gigabyte each — is a holdover from the file systems of the era.
Why it is useful
Decent quality, a standardized structure, and guaranteed playback on any living-room DVD player.
It preserves the multiple audio tracks and subtitles from the original disc.
Limits & drawbacks
A considerable file size for a resolution that isn't even high definition.
The film is split across several files, and commercial DVDs are encrypted — which blocks copying and conversion.
Practical tips
To archive a DVD you own the rights to, convert the VOB files to MP4: you'll get a single file, ten times smaller, playable on both phones and TVs.
Always check which audio track and subtitles you're keeping: a VOB often contains several, and conversion doesn't necessarily preserve the right one.
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