# Introduction **360-degree video** is a form of moving image sequence that surrounds the viewer in virtual space. When wearing an [HMD](/pimkb/preserving-xr-hardware/head-mounted-display.md#head-mounted-displays), the viewer is able to freely rotate their head, determining their viewing direction. This can be contrasted with traditional, fixed-perspective video in which the viewing angle is fixed. As the video content is linear, the viewing position is either fixed or follows a pre-determined path ("on rails") captured in the video. However, a degree of positional interactivity can be introduced through hotspots or portals which, when interacted with in the virtual scene, jump the viewer to another piece of 360-degree video content. Adding these requires the use of a software layer in addition to the video, which places the content somehwere between 360-degree video and [3D software](/pimkb/preserving-3d-software/introduction.md). 360-degree video can be created in a number of different ways: * Captured by a **camera** or array of camera lenses; * Generated as an export from **3D rendering software** (e.g. Blender); * Generated from a **real-time 3D** [**game engine**](/pimkb/preserving-3d-software/game-engines.md#list-of-engines) (either as a standalone experience or as documentation of a real-time 3D VR experience). It is then played back using video playback software that supports 360° video and viewed via [XR hardware](/pimkb/preserving-xr-hardware/head-mounted-display.md). ## Assessing 360-degree Video * How was the 360-degree video **created**? * Was it created through **camera capture**? * If so, is the camera model and captured video format known? * Was it created using a **3D software tool** e.g. 3D renderer or game engine? * Is the capture and output format of the video known? * Did the video undergo a **stitching** process * Is the software used for stitching known? * Was the video **edited**? * If so, what software was used? * Are these production assets available? * By inspecting file **metadata**, are you able to determine key characteristics of the 360-degree video format? If not you will need to determine these manually. See [Video Formats](/pimkb/preserving-360-video/video-formats.md) for more information about these. * The [projection format](/pimkb/preserving-360-video/video-formats.md#projection-format) used e.g. cubemap, equirectangular. * Whether the video is [monoscopic or stereoscopic](/pimkb/preserving-360-video/video-formats.md#monoscopic-vs-stereoscopic). * The [codec and pixel format](/pimkb/preserving-360-video/video-formats.md#video-file-format) that the video has been encoded with. * What kind of **audio format** does the video use? * If this uses [spatial audio](/pimkb/preserving-360-video/spatial-audio.md), how was this created? * How has the spatial audio been encoded in the video file? --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://pimkb.gitbook.io/pimkb/preserving-360-video/360-video.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.