What does AVI stand for in the context of video files?

AVI stands for Audio Video Interleave, which is a multimedia container format introduced by Microsoft in 1992. This format allows for synchronous audio and video playback by storing audio and video data in a single file. The key feature of AVI is its ability to interleave audio and video streams, meaning it can store segments of audio and video in alternating blocks. This interleaving allows for smoother playback, as the media player can access both audio and video data simultaneously.

The term 'Audio Video Interleave' succinctly captures the fundamental purpose of the format: to combine both audio and video into one cohesive file, enabling efficient playback. Options that mention variations like 'Advanced Video Interleave' or 'Audio Visual Integration' deviate from the established meaning of AVI and do not reflect the actual specification recognized in the field of digital media. Similarly, 'Audio Visual Interlace' is not a recognized term related to this format and fails to convey the accurate technical meaning. Thus, the correct understanding of AVI as Audio Video Interleave is essential for anyone working with video files and formats.