Working with audio in React Native means understanding both the codecs (formats/encoders) available and the libraries that expose recording/playback APIs. Below is a comprehensive guide covering: What an audio codec is Popular React Native audio libraries & their codec support Installation & setup Recording with different codecs Playback (local files, streaming) Transcoding & advanced use cases Performance tips & best practices 1. What Is an Audio Codec? An audio codec is a method for encoding (compressing) and decoding (decompressing) digital audio. Common codecs on mobile include: PCM/WAV (uncompressed, highest quality, large file sizes) AAC (lossy, high quality at moderate bitrates; natively supported by iOS/Android) AMR (optimized for voice; low bitrate) MP3 (ubiquitous but patent-encumbered; usually via third-party libs) Vorbis & Opus (open, efficient; via extra modules on Android only) Choosing the right codec is a trade-off between quality, file s...