JVET-AP0246 HEVC Profile Signalling Reference [A. M. Tourapis, D. Podborski, J. Kim, W. Zia (Apple)] [late]

This document provides a comprehensive and consolidated reference for the profile, tier, and level signalling mechanisms in Rec. ITU-T H.265 | ISO/IEC 23008-2 High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC). The definitions and characteristics of the numerous HEVC profiles are distributed across multiple annexes and clauses of the specification, requiring significant effort from implementers to interpret correctly. This contribution consolidates this scattered information into a single, accessible guide. It covers the profile identification mechanism, constraint flag signalling, per-profile characteristics, backward compatibility requirements, and the distinct constraint scoping rules for multi-layer profiles, with the goal of reducing implementation ambiguity and providing a clear reference for the HEVC community.

A significant portion of the data presented in the tables within this document was extracted and cross-referenced from the ITU-T H.265 specification (01/2026) with the assistance of Google's Gemini 2.5 Pro large language model.

For possible consideration in future edition of HEVC, requires further study. Proponents are asked uploading a new version with a patent statement.

AHG15: Gaming content compression (2)

Contributions in this area were discussed during 1445–1510 on Tuesday 28 April 2026 (chaired by JRO).