Windows Media Video (WMV) is a video compression format developed by Microsoft. It is designed to provide high-quality video at lower bit rates, making it suitable for streaming over the internet and for use in various multimedia applications. WMV files are often used for sharing videos online and can be played on many devices that support the Windows operating system. WMV is part of the Windows Media framework, which also includes audio formats like Windows Media Audio (WMA). The format supports various resolutions and can be encoded with different levels of quality, allowing users to choose the best option for their needs. WMV files are commonly used in video editing and playback software.