View source for .m4a

==.m4a==
'''.m4a''' is the [[file extension]] attached to names of files using the '''M'''PEG-'''4 A'''udio standard. The normal extension for any MPEG-4 file is '''[[MPEG-4 Part 14|.mp4]]''', which is also mentioned in the MPEG-4 standard. The .m4a file extension has been popularized by Apple, which started using the .m4a file extension in their [[iTunes]] software and [[iPod]] music players to distinguish between MPEG-4 Video and Audio files. Currently, most software that supports MPEG-4 Audio also supports the .m4a extension. The most common type of .m4a files available are those using the AAC ([[Advanced Audio Coding]]) audio format, but other formats such as [[Apple Lossless]] and even [[mp3]] files may be put inside a .m4a container file. You can normally safely rename the file extension of a '''[[MPEG-4 Part 14|.mp4]]''' file containing only audio to .m4a or vice versa to get the file to properly play in your favorite audio player.

===Protected MPEG-4 Audio===
When these files have [[digital rights management]] (DRM) restrictions applied to them, their extension are changed to '''.m4p''', the ''p'' standing for ''protected''. Music files purchased from the [[iTunes Music Store]] have this extension.

===Audiobooks===
When they contain audiobook data, MPEG-4 files have a .m4b extension.