Opus
Opus is a versatile, open-source audio codec designed for interactive real-time applications such as VoIP, video conferencing, and gaming, as well as for streaming and storage. It combines the best features of the SILK speech codec and the CELT music codec to provide high-quality audio at low bitrates with low latency. Developed by the IETF and standardized as RFC 6716, it is widely supported across modern software and hardware platforms.
Developers should learn and use Opus when building applications that require efficient, high-quality audio transmission, such as real-time communication tools, online gaming voice chat, or streaming services, due to its low latency and adaptability to varying network conditions. It is particularly valuable for projects targeting web browsers, mobile apps, or embedded systems, as it is royalty-free and integrated into standards like WebRTC and HTML5 audio.