It links the process of decompressing frames from a video source to the rest of the Quartz technologies for image rendering and composition.
[1] Core Video provides both a buffering model and a playback synchronization solution within its processing pipeline.
A video source provides a decompressed data stream to be rendered as images within a visual context in Quartz 2D.
To ensure smooth playback, Core Video uses a high-priority thread to maintain its frame buffer.
[1] Core Video benefits from graphics processor (GPU) rendering and composition provided by Quartz GL, Core Image, and Quartz Extreme, since final playback is composed on an OpenGL surface.