STRUCT V4L2_FORMAT(9)

💖 struct v4l2_format(9) 💖

okay bestie, welcome to the Kernel API Manual — yes we're in the kernel API manual and yes it's still cute. this one is all about struct v4l2_format, aka stream data format. it's giving "the master container for whatever your video stream is shaped like" 👑

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✨ NAME ✨

struct v4l2_format — stream data format 🌸

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🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

struct v4l2_format {
    __u32 type;
    union {
      struct v4l2_pix_format          pix;
      struct v4l2_pix_format_mplane   pix_mp;
      struct v4l2_window              win;
      struct v4l2_vbi_format          vbi;
      struct v4l2_sliced_vbi_format   sliced;
      struct v4l2_sdr_format          sdr;
      struct v4l2_meta_format         meta;
      __u8 raw_data[200];
    } fmt;
 };

like… look at her. one __u32 and then a whole little union family reunion inside fmt. iconic structure, no notes 💅

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🎀 Members 🎀

• type — an enum v4l2_buf_type; it tells you what kind of data stream we're dealing with. the vibe check of the whole struct, honestly.
• fmt — the union holding pix, pix_mp, win, vbi, sliced, sdr, meta and raw_data. it's a whole closet and only one outfit is worn at a time ✨
• fmt.pix — the definition of an image format 🖼️
• fmt.pix_mp — the definition of a multiplanar image format (she's fancy, she has planes) 🧚
• fmt.win — the definition of an overlaid image 🌈
• fmt.vbi — raw VBI capture or output parameters 📼
• fmt.sliced — sliced VBI capture or output parameters 🔪 (not literally, it's a VBI thing, don't panic)
• fmt.raw_data — the placeholder for future extensions and custom formats 🫶 the "save this seat for later" energy, we love a forward-thinking king

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⭐ SEE ALSO ⭐

Kernel file ./include/uapi/linux/videodev2.h — and then the whole friend group: struct v4l2_capability(9), struct v4l2_plane(9), struct v4l2_buffer(9), v4l2_timeval_to_ns(9), struct v4l2_exportbuffer(9), struct v4l2_selection(9), struct v4l2_plane_pix_format(9), struct v4l2_pix_format_mplane(9), struct v4l2_sdr_format(9), struct v4l2_meta_format(9), struct v4l2_event_motion_det(9), struct v4l2_create_buffers(9), struct v4l2_remove_buffers(9)

go read all of them, iykyk 💀💖

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lowkey a reminder bestie: raw_data[200] is literally a placeholder for future extensions and custom formats, so don't go inventing behaviour for it, fr fr 🙈

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and that's the whole page!! mwah 💋 this was brought to you from ./include/uapi/linux, dated October 2026, and filed under struct v4l2_format(9) — periodt, go format some streams 🦋✨👑