Overview
ISO/IEC 23000-18:2018 - part of the MPEG‑A (Multimedia Application Formats) family - defines the Media Linking Application Format (MLAF) and a data structure called a "bridget". A bridget links a source content item to a destination content item and carries metadata about both, the link, and how that link should be presented to users so they can make considerate decisions about following the link. The standard specifies the MLAF model, schema elements, namespace URI and syntax/semantics for machine‑readable bridgets.
Keywords: ISO/IEC 23000-18:2018, MLAF, bridget, media linking application format, MPEG-A, media linking, metadata.
Key technical topics and requirements
- Bridget data structure - central element representing a link between source and destination content with descriptive metadata.
- MLAF model and functional requirements - defines the expected behavior and use cases for media linking.
- Schema and namespace - imported schemas and MLAF namespace URI are specified to support interoperable implementations.
- Root and container elements - formal MLAF document structure, including syntax and semantics.
- Source Item / Destination Item - elements that describe content endpoints (identifiers, descriptors).
- Media segments - support for linking to specific temporal/spatial portions of media.
- Structural annotation and anchors - tagging and mapping content structure to link points.
- Spatiotemporal information - coordinates and timing for precise linking (e.g., video time ranges, image regions).
- Descriptors - media descriptors, bridget descriptors and EBU Core descriptor integration for richer metadata.
- Syntax, semantics and examples - normative guidance on how MLAF elements are formed and presented.
Practical applications
- Enabling contextual links in streaming platforms (recommendations, related clips).
- Supporting content moderation and user warnings by presenting link metadata before navigation.
- Allowing publishers and archives to link resources precisely (timecodes, image regions).
- Powering editorial workflows, interactive media, and accessibility features that need metadata-aware linking.
- Facilitating interoperability among media players, CMS, and discovery systems through a standard schema and namespace.
Who should use this standard
- Media platform architects and software developers building linking, recommendation or discovery features.
- Broadcasters, streaming services and digital archives implementing interoperable content linking.
- Metadata engineers, archivists and integrators working with MPEG‑A formats and EBU Core metadata.
- UI/UX designers and product teams needing to present link information for user consent and content safety.
Related standards
- ISO/IEC 23000 (MPEG‑A) multimedia application formats family.
- EBU Core metadata profiles (referenced in MLAF descriptors).
ISO/IEC 23000-18:2018 provides a machine‑readable, interoperable way to express and present media links (bridgets), improving discoverability, user-awareness and controlled navigation across multimedia content.
Open preview (PDF)Information technology — Multimedia application formats (MPEG-A) — Part 18: Media linking application format
