Determining the codecs installed on a system is crucial for troubleshooting multimedia playback issues or ensuring compatibility with specific file formats. Codecs, short for coder-decoders, are software components that encode and decode digital media, allowing devices to play audio and video content.
Knowing which codecs are installed can help users identify missing codecs that prevent certain media files from playing or determine if installed codecs are up-to-date for optimal performance. Additionally, it aids developers in selecting the appropriate codecs for their software or web applications.