Audio Video Interleave (AVI) is a multimedia container format introduced by Microsoft in 1992. It allows for the simultaneous storage of audio and video data in a single file, making it easier to play back synchronized media. AVI files can contain various codecs, which are used to compress and decompress the audio and video streams. One of the key features of AVI is its ability to support multiple audio and video tracks within a single file. This flexibility enables users to include different language tracks or commentary options. However, AVI files can be larger than other formats, as they often use less compression.