A video is encoded to a series of ones and zeros by a codex. That codex determines the interpretation of that data. The codex basically becomes a sensor -- it s

A video is encoded to a series of ones and zeros by a codex. That codex determines the interpretation of that data. The codex basically becomes a sensor -- it serves the same purpose as the eyes, which is taking raw data (photon excitements or binary string) and turning it into meaningful data (an image). And without that codex, the information is basically meaningless.