Video vs. Clip — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 19, 2024
Video refers to the recording, reproducing, or broadcasting of moving visual images, while clip denotes a short segment of a video or film, often extracted for a specific purpose.
Difference Between Video and Clip
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Video encompasses a broad category of visual content that includes moving images, with or without sound, designed to be played back on screens or other displays. It can range in length from a few seconds to several hours, covering various genres and purposes, from entertainment and education to marketing. On the other hand, a clip is a short section cut from a longer video or film, typically highlighting a specific moment, scene, or element intended for brief viewing, sharing, or illustrating a point.
While videos can serve an array of functions, such as storytelling, instruction, or documentation, clips are often used to summarize, tease, or highlight key aspects of longer videos or to serve as examples or references in discussions and presentations. The term video suggests a complete piece, possibly with a beginning, middle, and end, conveying a full narrative or message. In contrast, a clip, by nature, lacks the full context of its source material, offering only a glimpse or a focused view on a particular aspect.
The production of a video can involve extensive planning, shooting, and editing processes, employing a range of techniques and technologies to achieve the desired outcome. Clips, while they may be taken from professionally produced videos, require less production effort in themselves; their creation often involves selecting and cutting from existing footage to isolate a segment of interest.
Videos are consumed across various platforms and devices, from television and cinema to online streaming services and social media, accommodating a wide audience and diverse content preferences. Clips, due to their brevity and specificity, are particularly popular on social media and news websites, where quick, engaging content is favored.
Despite their differences, both videos and clips are integral to digital communication and media. Videos offer comprehensive experiences or narratives, while clips provide accessible, easily shareable content that can stand alone or complement broader discussions or collections of media.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A recording of moving visual images.
A short segment of a video or film.
Length
Can vary widely, from seconds to several hours.
Usually short, focusing on a specific moment.
Purpose
Can serve various purposes, including entertainment, education, marketing.
Often used to summarize, tease, or highlight parts of longer content.
Context
Represents a complete narrative or message.
Lacks full context, providing a focused view.
Production
Involves planning, shooting, editing, and can be complex.
Involves selecting and cutting from existing footage.
Consumption
Across various platforms and devices.
Popular on social media and news websites for quick engagement.
Role in Media
Offers comprehensive experiences or narratives.
Provides accessible, easily shareable highlights.
Compare with Definitions
Video
The recording, reproducing, or broadcasting of moving visual images.
They uploaded a video tutorial on how to bake a cake.
Clip
A short segment extracted from a longer video or film.
The clip from the movie went viral on social media.
Video
Used for longer form content delivering a complete narrative or information.
The company released a promotional video showcasing their new product line.
Clip
Used to summarize or tease content, or illustrate points in presentations.
The professor used a clip to illustrate the historical event.
Video
Production values can range from amateur to professional.
The quality of the video production greatly affects viewer engagement.
Clip
Often highlights a memorable moment, scene, or a specific point.
News outlets shared a clip of the speech.
Video
Can include a variety of content forms such as movies, tutorials, and livestreams.
The documentary video on marine life was enlightening.
Clip
Requires less production effort, focusing on cutting and isolating segments.
They created a clip to highlight the funniest moments of the show.
Video
Accessed through various channels like TV, online platforms, and cinemas.
The educational videos are available on their official YouTube channel.
Clip
Particularly popular for quick sharing and engagement online.
The clip gained millions of views on the platform within hours.
Video
Video is an electronic medium for the recording, copying, playback, broadcasting, and display of moving visual media. Video was first developed for mechanical television systems, which were quickly replaced by cathode ray tube (CRT) systems which were later replaced by flat panel displays of several types.
Clip
A flexible or spring-loaded device for holding an object or objects together or in place
He undid two clips and lifted the lid
A gilt clip fastened her hair
Video
A sequence of images processed electronically into an analog or digital format and displayed on a screen with sufficient rapidity as to create the illusion of motion and continuity.
Clip
A metal holder containing cartridges for an automatic firearm
He shot twice, but his clip was empty
Video
A signal carrying such images.
Clip
An act of clipping or trimming something
I gave him a full clip
Video
A movie recorded electronically, usually including a soundtrack
A video of a birthday party.
Clip
A short sequence taken from a film or broadcast
Clips from earlier shows
A film clip
Video
The presentation of such a work.
Clip
A smart or glancing blow
I'd give him a clip round the ear
Video
The electronic medium in which such movies are recorded
A movie released on video.
Clip
A specified speed or rate of movement, especially when rapid
We crossed the dance floor at an amazingly fast clip
Video
A music video.
Clip
Fasten or be fastened with a clip or clips
She clipped on a pair of diamond earrings
The panels simply clip on to the framework
Video
Television, television show, movie.
Clip
Cut short or trim (hair, vegetation, etc.) with shears or scissors
I was clipping the hedge
Video
A short film clip, with or without audio (as in a music video, or one of the plethora of user-generated short movies on sites such as YouTube).
We made a video montage of Robbie for his fiftieth birthday.
Check out my new videos on YouTube.
Clip
Strike smartly or with a glancing blow
The car clipped the kerb
He'll clip your ear
Video
Motion picture stored on VHS or some other format.
Clip
Swindle or rob
In all the years he ran the place, he was clipped only three times
Video
(dated) VHS.
Clip
Move quickly
We clip down the track
Video
(Britain) To record using a video camera, to videotape
Clip
To cut, cut off, or cut out with or as if with shears
Clip coupons.
Clipped three seconds off the record.
Video
(Britain) To record a television program
Clip
To make shorter by cutting; trim
Clip a hedge.
Video
(ambitransitive) To visually record (activity, or a motion picture) in general, with or without sound.
Clip
To cut off the edge of
Clip a coin.
Video
The visible part of a television transmission;
They could still receive the sound but the picture was gone
Clip
To cut short; curtail.
Video
A recording of both the video and audio components (especially one containing a recording of a movie or television program)
Clip
To shorten (a word or words) by leaving out letters or syllables.
Video
Broadcasting visual images of stationary or moving objects;
She is a star of screen and video
Television is a medium because it is neither rare nor well done
Clip
To enunciate with clarity and precision
Clip one's words.
Clip
(Informal) To hit with a sharp blow
Clipped me under the eye.
Clip
(Football) To block (an opponent) illegally from the rear.
Clip
(Sports) To hit or kick (the ball) in a certain direction.
Clip
(Slang) To cheat, swindle, or rob.
Clip
To cut something.
Clip
(Informal) To move rapidly.
Clip
To fasten with or as if with a clip; hold tightly.
Clip
(Archaic) To embrace or encompass.
Clip
The act of clipping.
Clip
The wool shorn at one shearing, as of sheep.
Clip
A season's shearing.
Clip
A short extract from a movie or television program.
Clip
(Informal) A quick sharp blow
A clip on the ear.
Clip
(Football) An illegal block from the rear.
Clip
(Informal) A pace or rate
Go at a fast clip.
Clip
A single occasion; a time
Could write nine pages at a clip.
Clip
Clips A pair of shears or clippers.
Clip
Any of various devices for gripping or holding things together; a clasp or fastener.
Clip
A piece of jewelry that fastens with a clasp or clip, such as an earring or a brooch.
Clip
A cartridge clip.
Clip
To grip tightly.
Clip
To fasten with a clip.
Please clip the photos to the pages where they will go.
Clip
(archaic) To hug, embrace.
Clip
(slang) To collect signatures, generally with the use of a clipboard.
Clip
To cut, especially with scissors or shears as opposed to a knife etc.
She clipped my hair with her scissors.
Please clip that coupon out of the newspaper.
Clip
To curtail; to cut short.
Clip
To strike with the hand.
I’ll clip ye round the lugs!
Clip
To hit or strike, especially in passing.
The car skidded off the road and clipped a lamppost.
Clip
(American football) To perform an illegal tackle, throwing the body across the back of an opponent's leg or hitting him from the back below the waist while moving up from behind unless the opponent is a runner or the action is in close line play.
Clip
(signal processing) To cut off a signal level at a certain maximum value.
Clip
(computer graphics) To discard (an occluded part of a model or scene) rather than waste resources on rendering it.
Clip
To move (through or into) (a rendered object or barrier).
The camera keeps clipping that ceiling.
Clipping through walls is integral to the game's speedruns.
Oh, no, I clipped my avatar through the barrier!
Clip
To cheat, swindle, or fleece.
Clip
To grab or take stealthily
Clip
Something which clips or grasps; a device for attaching one object to another.
Use this clip to attach the check to your tax form.
Clip
An unspecified, but normally understood as rapid, speed or pace.
She reads at a pretty good clip.
He was walking at a fair clip and I was out of breath trying to keep up.
Clip
(obsolete) An embrace.
Clip
(military) A frame containing a number of rounds of ammunition which is intended to be inserted into an internal magazine of a firearm to allow for rapid reloading.
Clip
A removable magazine of a firearm.
Clip
A projecting flange on the upper edge of a horseshoe, turned up so as to embrace the lower part of the hoof; a toe clip or beak.
Clip
A gaff or hook for landing the fish, as in salmon fishing.
Clip
Something which has been clipped from a larger whole:
Clip
The product of a single shearing of sheep.
Clip
A season's crop of wool.
Clip
A section of video taken from a film, broadcast, or other longer video
The morning news today played a clip of last night's debate.
The 100th episode of Seinfeld consisted of clips from previous episodes.
Clip
A newspaper clipping.
Clip
An act of clipping, such as a haircut.
I went into the salon to get a clip.
Clip
The condition of something, its state.
Deeky the clip of that aad wife ower thor!
Clip
(informal) A blow with the hand (often in the set phrase clip round the ear)
Give him a clip round the ear!
Clip
To embrace, hence; to encompass.
O . . . that Neptune's arms, who clippeth thee about,Would bear thee from the knowledge of thyself.
Clip
To cut off; as with shears or scissors; as, to clip the hair; to clip coin.
Sentenced to have his ears clipped.
Clip
To curtail; to cut short.
All my reports go with the modest truth;No more nor clipped, but so.
In London they clip their words after one manner about the court, another in the city, and a third in the suburbs.
Clip
To move swiftly; - usually with indefinite it.
Straight flies as chek, and clips it down the wind.
Clip
An embrace.
Clip
A cutting; a shearing.
Clip
The product of a single shearing of sheep; a season's crop of wool.
Clip
A clasp or holder for letters, papers, etc.
Clip
An embracing strap for holding parts together; the iron strap, with loop, at the ends of a whiffletree.
Clip
A projecting flange on the upper edge of a horseshoe, turned up so as to embrace the lower part of the hoof; - called also toe clip and beak.
Clip
A blow or stroke with the hand; as, he hit him a clip.
Clip
A part, attachment, or appendage, for seizing, clasping, or holding, an object, as a cable, etc.
Clip
A gaff or hook for landing the fish, as in salmon fishing.
Clip
A rapid gait.
Clip
A metal frame or container holding cartridges; can be inserted into an automatic gun
Clip
An instance or single occasion for some event;
This time he succeeded
He called four times
He could do ten at a clip
Clip
Any of various small fasteners used to hold loose articles together
Clip
An article of jewelry that can be clipped onto a hat or dress
Clip
The act of clipping or snipping
Clip
A sharp slanting blow;
He gave me a clip on the ear
Clip
Sever or remove by pinching or snipping;
Nip off the flowers
Clip
Run at a moderately swift pace
Clip
Attach with a clip;
Clip the papers together
Clip
Cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of;
Dress the plants in the garden
Clip
Terminate or abbreviate before its intended or proper end or its full extent;
My speech was cut short
Personal freedom is curtailed in many countries
Common Curiosities
What is a video?
A video is a recording of moving visual images, which can vary in length and serve various purposes, such as entertainment, education, or marketing.
Why are clips popular on social media?
Clips are popular on social media because they provide quick, engaging content that is easily shareable and suitable for platforms where users seek brief distractions or highlights.
What is a clip?
A clip is a short segment cut from a longer video or film, usually highlighting a specific moment or serving a particular illustrative purpose.
Are clips always taken from videos?
Typically, yes, clips are segments cut from longer videos, though the term can also refer to any short video segment created for a specific purpose.
What platforms are suitable for videos and clips?
Videos are suited for a wide range of platforms including television, online streaming services, and cinemas, whereas clips are particularly effective on social media and news websites.
Can clips be used for educational purposes?
Yes, clips can be very effective in educational settings, used to illustrate points, break up lectures with engaging content, or summarize complex information.
How do videos and clips differ in length?
Videos can range from a few seconds to several hours, covering a broad spectrum of content, while clips are specifically short segments of longer videos.
Can a clip stand alone without the original video?
Yes, clips can stand alone to summarize, tease, or highlight key aspects of longer content, although they may lack the full context of the source material.
How is the production of videos and clips different?
Video production can be complex, involving planning, shooting, and editing, while creating a clip mainly involves selecting and cutting a segment from existing video content.
How do videos and clips serve different purposes?
Videos provide comprehensive experiences or narratives, suitable for in-depth exploration of topics, while clips are used for quick engagement, summarizing content, or highlighting specific moments.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
