Matroska Video (MKV) is a flexible open container that can accommodate virtually any codec, multiple subtitle tracks, and chapter points. It is built on EBML (Extensible Binary Meta Language), a binary cousin of XML, allowing unlimited, self‑describing elements. The project began in 2002 after developer Steve Lhomme forked the failed MCF container. With the explosion of H.264 ‘fansubs’, MKV became the default wrapper for anime communities, bundling soft‑subs and styled karaoke effects. In 2013 Matroska was standardised within the IETF as the basis for WebM, cementing its longevity.