Filter the word “frame” indicates either a video frame or a group of audio as stored in an AVFrame structure Format for each input and each output the list of supported formats For video that means pixel format For audio that means channel sample they are references to shared objects When the negotiation mechanism computes the intersection of the formats supported at each end of a all references to both lists are replaced with a reference to the intersection And when a single format is eventually chosen for a link amongst the remaining all references to the list are updated That means that if a filter requires that its input and output have the same format amongst a supported all it has to do is use a reference to the same list of formats query_formats can leave some formats unset and return AVERROR(EAGAIN) to cause the negotiation mechanism toagain later. That can be used by filters with complex requirements to use the format negotiated on one link to set the formats supported on another. Frame references ownership and permissions
filter_frame For filters that do not use the this method is called when a frame is pushed to the filter s input It can be called at any time except in a reentrant way If the input frame is enough to produce then the filter should push the output frames on the output link immediately As an exception to the previous rule if the input frame is enough to produce several output frames then the filter needs output only at least one per link The additional frames can be left buffered in the filter