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Categories: Video & Film

HandBrake is an open-source, GPL-licensed, multiplatform, multithreaded video transcoder.

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Updated: 2026-09-23 15:22 Language: English (default) Access: Normal

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What is HandBrake?

HandBrake is a free, open-source video transcoder — a tool that converts video from one format or codec to another. It is built by volunteers and runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, so it fits into almost any desktop setup without a paid license. The project describes itself as able to take video from nearly any format and output it in a selection of modern, widely supported codecs.

H3. What that means in practice

  • Format conversion: You can take an older or awkward file — say, something recorded on a phone or ripped from a disc — and produce a version that plays smoothly on a TV, tablet or phone.
  • Codec choice: Instead of a single fixed output, you choose from widely supported modern codecs, which matters when your playback device is picky.
  • Cross-platform: The same tool exists for Windows, Mac and Linux, so instructions and habits transfer between machines.
  • No cost barrier: It is free and open source, which makes it easy to try on a spare computer or recommend to someone who does not want a subscription.

H3. Who tends to use it

The typical user is someone with a shelf of video files in mixed formats who wants them standardized, or someone shrinking large files for easier storage and sharing. It is also common among people who prefer local, offline tools over uploading personal video to a web service. Because it is a transcoder rather than an editor, it is not the right pick if your main goal is cutting clips, adding titles or color grading.

H3. Trade-offs to weigh

HandBrake's strength — breadth of formats and codec options — is also its main friction. A tool that accepts almost anything and lets you choose among modern codecs asks you to understand at least a little about resolution, bitrate and codec trade-offs; the output quality and file size depend heavily on those choices. If you want a one-click, opinionated export, a simpler converter may feel friendlier. If you want control and no licensing cost, this is the more capable option.

H3. A useful next step

Before converting a whole library, run a single short test clip: pick the device you care about most, choose an output codec it supports, and compare playback and file size against the original. Once that test looks right, apply the same settings to the rest. For official downloads and documentation, start at HandBrake. If you later need to check how a specific codec behaves across players, VideoLAN maintains VLC, a common playback reference.

How do I convert a video using HandBrake?

Open HandBrake, drag your video onto the window, pick a preset on the right, choose a destination file, then press Start Encode. HandBrake is a free, open-source transcoder for Windows, Mac and Linux that converts video from nearly any format into widely supported codecs, so it is best for shrinking large files, making phone- or TV-friendly versions, or changing containers rather than for creative editing.

Step by step

  1. Install HandBrake from its official site: HandBrake.
  2. Click Open Source or drag a file in. For a DVD/Blu-ray folder, use Open Source and select the folder or disc.
  3. Under Presets, choose a target: a device preset for a phone or TV, or a general preset such as Fast 1080p30 for everyday sharing.
  4. In Summary, set Format (MP4 or MKV). MP4 is the safer choice for phones, browsers and TVs; MKV is more flexible for multiple audio/subtitle tracks.
  5. Set Save As to a new filename and folder. Never overwrite your only copy.
  6. Open the Video, Audio and Subtitles tabs to adjust quality, audio tracks and captions. For a quick, high-quality result, leave the constant-quality slider near its default and change only if the file is too big or looks soft.
  7. Press Start Encode and wait for the progress bar to finish.

Practical choices

Goal Suggested approach
Smaller file, similar look General preset, MP4, moderate quality setting
Play on a specific device Device preset matching that device
Keep multiple audio/subtitle tracks MKV container
Archive a disc Disc/folder source, high-quality preset, MKV

A concrete scenario: you have a 4 GB phone recording you want to email or upload. Choose an MP4 device preset, set the destination to your Desktop, leave audio as-is, and encode. If the result is too large, lower the quality slightly and encode again from the original file, not the compressed output.

Next step: do a short test on a 30-second clip before running a full movie, so you can confirm the preset, container and audio settings look and sound right.

Which video formats and codecs does HandBrake support?

HandBrake is built to convert video from nearly any source format into a smaller set of modern, widely supported codecs. In practice, that means it accepts a broad range of input containers and streams, then lets you choose the output codec and container you want.

H3. What it accepts as input HandBrake's own description emphasizes converting "from nearly any format," and in real use it opens common containers such as MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, WMV, FLV, TS/M2TS and WebM, along with many camera and phone files. It also reads unprotected DVDs and Blu-ray-style disc structures. The main limitation is copy protection: commercial discs generally need to be decrypted before HandBrake can use them.

H3. What it produces On the output side, HandBrake focuses on a curated set of modern codecs rather than every option ever made:

Output type Common choices Typical use
Video codecs H.264, H.265/HEVC, AV1, MPEG-4, MPEG-2, VP9 H.264 for compatibility, H.265/AV1 for smaller files
Audio codecs AAC, MP3, AC-3, E-AC-3, FLAC, Opus, Vorbis AAC/MP3 for broad playback, FLAC for lossless
Containers MP4, MKV, WebM MP4 for phones and TVs, MKV for flexible tracks

H3. How to choose If your goal is playing the file almost anywhere, encode H.264 video with AAC audio in an MP4 container. If you care more about file size and your devices are recent, H.265 or AV1 in MKV is the better trade-off, at the cost of slower encoding and narrower playback support. For a quick answer about your specific source file, open it in HandBrake and check the title and track list it detects — that tells you directly whether the format and codecs are supported. You can also compare notes with the project's documentation and builds at HandBrake.

Is HandBrake free and what are its licensing terms?

Yes. HandBrake is free to download and use, and it is released under the GNU General Public License (GPL), according to the project's own description. That means you can use it at no cost, and you can also inspect, modify and redistribute its source code under the same license. It is built by volunteers and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux.

Practical implications for different users:

  • Home users: No purchase, subscription or account is required to convert your own videos. You can install it and start transcoding immediately.
  • Businesses and IT departments: Because it is GPL-licensed, internal use is generally straightforward, but if you redistribute a modified version, you must comply with the GPL's source-code obligations.
  • Developers: You can reuse and adapt the code, provided derivative distributions remain under the GPL. If you need to embed transcoding in a closed-source product, review the license carefully or consider a permissively licensed alternative.

One trade-off: free and open source does not mean zero cost in every sense. You supply your own hardware and time, and support comes from documentation and community channels rather than a commercial vendor.

Next step: Visit HandBrake to download the current build for your platform and check the documentation for format and codec guidance before your first conversion.

How does HandBrake compare to other video transcoding tools?

HandBrake is best understood as a free, open-source, multiplatform transcoder for converting video from nearly any format into widely supported modern codecs. Its main draw is not a unique feature but the combination of no cost, broad format support and a version for Windows, Mac and Linux, as described on HandBrake.

Where it fits

  • Good for shrinking large video files, converting odd formats into standard ones, and batch-processing a folder of clips.
  • Less suited to users who want a polished, guided interface or built-in editing, DVD/Blu-ray ripping workflows or cloud processing.

How the trade-offs usually look

Tool type Strength Trade-off
HandBrake Free, open source, cross-platform, handles many input formats Interface is utilitarian; some advanced options assume you know codecs and containers
Paid consumer converters Simple presets, extra tools bundled Cost, and sometimes aggressive upselling
Command-line tools such as FFmpeg Maximum control and scripting No GUI; steeper learning curve
Built-in OS or editor exporters Convenient for quick sharing Fewer encoding controls

Practical comparison If you value transparency and don't mind learning a few settings, HandBrake is often the default choice. If you need to script repetitive conversions, a command-line encoder like FFmpeg may fit better. If you want one-click results with minimal decisions, a paid consumer app can be easier. For editing plus transcoding in one place, tools such as Shotcut or OpenShot may be more relevant.

Next step Pick based on your workflow: try HandBrake when you need free, flexible conversion across platforms; choose a command-line tool when automation matters; choose a paid app when simplicity outweighs cost.

Can I use HandBrake on Windows, Mac, and Linux?

Yes. HandBrake is a multiplatform transcoder, so the same core tool is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. The official site lists all three under its platform support, and current builds are distributed through the project's own download page at HandBrake.

H3 What this means in practice

  • You can move between operating systems and keep using the same conversion workflow.
  • The interface is broadly consistent across platforms, so switching machines does not mean relearning the tool.
  • Feature availability can differ slightly by platform, especially around hardware-accelerated encoding, which depends on your GPU and drivers rather than on HandBrake alone.

H3 A concrete scenario

Say you rip and compress recordings on a Windows desktop but also want to convert a few files on a Linux laptop while traveling. You install the Linux build, load the same preset you use at home, and the output settings carry over conceptually even though the files themselves do not sync automatically. If you also keep a Mac, the same applies.

H3 How to choose

Pick the build for the machine where your source files and storage live, since transcoding is disk- and CPU-intensive. If you rely on hardware encoding, check that your GPU and drivers are supported on that platform before committing to a workflow. Otherwise, any of the three is a reasonable choice.

Next step: download the build for your operating system from HandBrake and confirm your intended output preset is available in that version.

Related questions

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What to Look for in a Video Platform Beyond Hosting and Sharing

If you're evaluating a video platform for a small business or marketing team, hosting and sharing are just the entry point. The features that actually determine whether a platform fits your workflow fall into four areas: privacy and playback control, collaboration and review tools, marketing and analytics capabilities, and practical limits like storage and mobile support. Most general-purpose tools (cloud storage, social networks, free hosts) cover hosting well but leave gaps in the other three. This guide walks through what each area means in practice, so you can map features to your own situation instead of comparing endless checklists.

Start by separating three jobs: hosting, editing, and marketing

Video platforms tend to bundle three distinct functions, and confusion usually comes from mixing them up:

  • Hosting — storing a file, generating a player, delivering it reliably to viewers. This is the baseline.
  • Editing — trimming, assembling, adding captions or branding. Some platforms include basic editors; others expect you to edit elsewhere and upload the result.
  • Marketing and business features — privacy controls, lead capture, calls to action, analytics, team review workflows. These are what separate a "video host" from a "video platform."

A useful exercise: write down your last five video tasks (a product demo, a client pitch, a social clip, an internal training, a landing page embed). For each one, note which of the three jobs it required. If most of your tasks stop at hosting, a lighter tool may be enough. If several involve review cycles, gated access, or measuring viewer behavior, a fuller platform earns its cost.

Privacy and playback control: the business-vs-social divide

On social platforms, everything is public by default and wrapped in ads and recommendations. For business use, that's often the opposite of what you want. Look for:

  • Granular privacy settings — can you restrict a video to specific people, a password, a domain, or an embed location? Can you make it unlisted but still embeddable?
  • Ad-free playback — your product demo shouldn't end with a competitor's ad or an unrelated recommendation.
  • Customizable embeds — control over player color, logo, and whether related videos appear. This matters when the video sits on your own site and represents your brand.
  • Domain-level restrictions — the ability to limit playback to your own website prevents your content from being re-embedded elsewhere.

If your videos are purely promotional and public, these controls matter less. If you share client work, internal training, or pre-release material, they become the deciding factor.

Collaboration and review: the most common gap

This is where general-purpose tools most often fall short. A shared drive lets people comment on a file, but it doesn't give you a structured review process. A dedicated platform typically offers:

  • Timestamped comments — feedback attached to a specific moment in the video, so "the logo looks off" points to an exact frame.
  • Versioning — uploading a new cut while keeping the old one, so reviewers can see what changed.
  • Approval status — a clear "approved" or "needs changes" state rather than a scattered email thread.
  • Role-based access — reviewers who can comment but not download or reshare.

When this becomes relevant: as soon as more than two people need to sign off on a video, or when you're producing videos on a recurring schedule. For a solo operator publishing once a month, a simple comment thread may be sufficient.

Analytics and lead capture: beyond view counts

A raw view count tells you almost nothing actionable. Business-oriented platforms go further:

Feature What it tells you When it matters
Watch time / engagement graph Where viewers drop off Improving content or editing
Viewer identity Who watched (when gated) Sales follow-up, internal training
Lead capture forms Email collected before or during playback Demand generation
Calls to action Click-through to a page or booking link Converting viewers
Embed/domain reports Where your video is being watched Tracking campaign performance

If your goal is brand awareness, basic view counts may be fine. If you're using video to generate leads or train staff, the deeper metrics are the reason to choose a platform over a free host.

Practical limits that affect daily use

Feature lists rarely mention the constraints that cause friction later. Check these before committing:

  • Storage and bandwidth limits — how much you can upload, and whether high viewership triggers overage fees.
  • Upload size and length caps — relevant if you work with long recordings or high-resolution footage.
  • Mobile app support — can you upload, review, and respond to comments from a phone? For teams that shoot on mobile, this is a real workflow factor.
  • Export and portability — can you download your originals and embed codes if you leave? Lock-in is a hidden cost.
  • Integrations — does it connect to the tools you already use (your website builder, CRM, or project tracker)?

Deciding between a full platform and a lighter tool

Use these rough conditions as a starting point:

A lighter tool (free host, cloud storage, social platform) is likely enough if:

  • You publish occasionally and mostly to public channels.
  • One person handles video end to end.
  • You don't need gated access or viewer-level analytics.

A dedicated platform is worth evaluating if:

  • Multiple people review or approve videos.
  • You need privacy controls, ad-free playback, or branded embeds.
  • You're using video for lead generation, training, or client delivery.
  • You publish frequently enough that manual workarounds cost more than a subscription.

Pricing and plan details change often, so check the platform's current plans page directly rather than relying on secondhand comparisons. The right approach is to list your actual requirements first, then match them against what each option offers — not the other way around.

What Are Open-Source UI Element Libraries and How Do They Differ From UI Frameworks?

An open-source UI element library is a collection of individual, ready-made interface pieces—buttons, cards, inputs, toggles, loaders—that you copy into your own project and adapt. A UI framework, by contrast, is a structured system of components, conventions, and often a theming layer that governs how your whole interface is built. The practical difference: an element library gives you a snippet; a framework gives you a way of working. If you need a polished button in ten minutes, reach for the element library. If you're building a 40-screen product with a team, you probably want the framework.

What "open-source UI element library" actually means

The term gets used loosely, so it helps to separate the parts:

  • Open-source: the code is publicly available, and the license tells you what you may do with it—copy, modify, redistribute, or use commercially.
  • UI element: a single, self-contained piece of interface, usually small enough to read in one sitting. A button with hover states, a pricing card, a search field.
  • Library: a browsable, searchable collection of those elements, typically contributed by many different people.

On a site like Uiverse, elements are shared by a community and written in plain CSS or Tailwind. You find one you like, copy the markup and styles, paste them into your project, and adjust colors, spacing, and text to fit. There's no package to install and no build step required—which is exactly the appeal, and also the source of most of the confusion.

Element library vs. UI framework: the core differences

Dimension Open-source UI element library UI framework / design system
Unit of reuse A single snippet you copy A component you import or call
Installation None; paste into your code Package install, config, sometimes a provider
Consistency Depends on you; each element may look different Enforced by shared tokens and APIs
Theming Manual edits per element Central theme/config file
Updates You own the copy; no upstream updates Version bumps bring fixes and changes
Accessibility Varies per contributor; must be checked Usually tested and documented
Best for Prototypes, landing pages, small sites, one-off needs Multi-page apps, teams, long-lived products
Learning curve Low—read the CSS Higher—learn the API and conventions

The table isn't a verdict. It's a map of trade-offs. Element libraries win on speed and freedom; frameworks win on consistency and maintenance.

Licensing and attribution: what to check before you paste

This is where people get into trouble, and it's worth slowing down for.

  1. Find the license. Every element or collection should state one. Common open-source licenses include MIT, Apache-2.0, and BSD. Some projects use copyleft licenses like GPL, which can impose obligations if you redistribute your code.
  2. Understand what the license permits. MIT and Apache-2.0 are permissive: you can typically use the code in commercial and closed-source projects. Copyleft licenses may require you to release derivative source under the same terms.
  3. Check attribution requirements. Permissive licenses usually require you to keep the copyright notice and license text somewhere in your project. That's a real obligation, not a formality.
  4. Look for per-element terms. On community sites, the site's overall terms and the individual contributor's stated wishes may differ. If a contributor asks for credit, honor it.
  5. When in doubt, ask or avoid. If a snippet has no license at all, you don't have clear permission to reuse it. Treat "no license" as "not open source," even if the code is publicly visible.

This article is general information, not legal advice. For commercial products with real exposure, have someone qualified review the licenses you're relying on.

How to use a community element in your project: a practical workflow

Here's a repeatable process that avoids most of the usual mess.

1. Start from a real need, not a browsing session

Decide what you need first—"a compact primary button with a loading state"—then search. Browsing aimlessly produces a pile of pretty snippets that don't fit together.

2. Copy the smallest version that works

Take the markup and the styles. Strip anything you don't need: demo wrappers, extra animations, decorative layers. Less code means fewer surprises.

3. Convert it to your conventions

If your project uses design tokens or CSS variables, replace hard-coded values:

/* Before: hard-coded */
.button { background: #4f46e5; border-radius: 8px; }

/* After: token-based */
.button { background: var(--color-primary); border-radius: var(--radius-md); }

This one step is what keeps a copied element from looking like a foreign object in your UI.

4. Check accessibility before you ship

Community elements vary widely here. Verify at minimum:

  • Keyboard focus is visible and the element is reachable by Tab.
  • Color contrast meets WCAG AA (4.5:1 for normal text).
  • Interactive elements use semantic HTML (<button>, not a clickable <div>).
  • Form inputs have associated labels.
  • Motion respects prefers-reduced-motion.

5. Test in context

Paste it into a real page with real content. Long labels, small screens, and dark mode break more copied elements than anything else.

6. Note where it came from

Keep a short comment or an internal credits file: source, license, date. Future you—and your legal reviewer—will be grateful.

Where element libraries genuinely shine

  • Prototypes and demos: you need something clickable today, not a design system.
  • Landing pages and marketing sites: a handful of distinctive elements, each custom.
  • Filling gaps: your framework lacks one specific component, and you don't want to build it from scratch.
  • Learning: reading well-made CSS is one of the fastest ways to improve.
  • Small projects: a personal site doesn't need a theming architecture.

Where they fall short

  • Consistency at scale: ten elements from ten contributors rarely look like one product.
  • Maintenance: you own every copy. When your design changes, you edit each one.
  • Accessibility debt: you inherit whatever the contributor did or didn't do.
  • No upstream fixes: a bug fixed in the original won't reach your copy.
  • Integration friction: different naming conventions, different units, different assumptions about resets.

When to choose which

Choose an element library when the scope is small, the timeline is short, or you need a few distinctive pieces rather than a whole system.

Choose a framework or design system when multiple people build multiple screens over months, when consistency is a product requirement, or when accessibility and theming need to be guaranteed rather than checked.

A hybrid works well for many teams: adopt a framework for the structural components—forms, navigation, layout—and borrow individual elements for the places where you want personality. Just route every borrowed element through the same token and accessibility checks, so it lands as part of your system rather than beside it.

The short version: open-source UI element libraries are a fast, flexible way to get good-looking interface pieces into a project. They are not a substitute for a design system, and the license and accessibility details are the part worth reading carefully.

Website Overview

An established domain and managed infrastructure suggest continuity of operations and may support dependable delivery, although neither guarantees service quality. Several search or sharing settings need attention. Together they may make snippets, preview images or preferred URLs less consistent across platforms.

Domain and Registration

Registered in 2007, this domain has about 18 years of history. That suggests continuity, although ownership and purpose may have changed. Transfer-protection status is present, helping reduce the risk of unauthorized domain transfers. The registrar is GANDI, a widely used domain service provider. Registration contact information is publicly available through RDAP. The domain uses the common .fr extension, which is not an independent safety signal.

DNS and Email

Nameservers are provided by he.net, indicating managed DNS hosting. MX records point to the handbrake.fr email service. CAA records restrict which certificate authorities are authorized to issue certificates. No CNAME was found; the observed records resolve directly to addresses. SPF and DMARC are configured. DKIM status is unknown.

TLS and Certificates

The certificate uses an RSA 4096-bit public key, offering broad client compatibility. The server supplied a complete certificate chain. No organization name is present in the certificate; the available fields are consistent with domain validation. The certificate was issued by Let's Encrypt, commonly associated with automated certificate services. The certificate's total validity is about 89 days, consistent with a short renewal cycle.

HTTP and Browser Security

No X-Powered-By header was found, reducing one common source of backend fingerprinting information. All six checked browser-security headers are present. Their effectiveness still depends on the policy values and application behavior. No obvious internal addresses or debug information were found in the headers. The Server header identifies nginx without an exact version. No explicit CDN or WAF marker was found in the response headers.

Technology Stack Analysis

The public page identifies nginx without precise versions, leaving fewer clues for version-specific scanning.

Search and Social Sharing

No homepage canonical URL was detected. If duplicate URLs exist, consolidation may be less explicit. No Open Graph metadata was detected, so social previews may depend on platform inference. The title has 39 characters, within a common display range. A meta description is present, with 89 characters. The observed directives allow indexing and link following.

Hosting and Email

DNShe.net
HostingOVH SAS
Emailhandbrake.fr
Location France flagFrance 46.105.55.28

User reviews (0)

  • No reviews yet.

Pages, Search and Sharing

Meta descriptionHandBrake is an open-source, GPL-licensed, multiplatform, multithreaded video transcoder.
Canonical URLNot detected
LanguageEnglish (default)
Twitter CardNot detected

Unknown

All bots 0 allowed · 0 disallowed
  • IntervalCrawl delay 60 seconds

Registration details RDAP / WHOIS

RegistrarGANDI
Registered2007-12-20
Expires2026-12-20
Domain statusclient transfer prohibited
Nameserversns1.he.net、ns2.he.net、ns3.he.net、ns4.he.net、ns5.he.net
DNSSECunknown

DNS records

TypeNameValueTTLPriority
Ahandbrake.fr46.105.55.28207—
AAAAhandbrake.fr2001:41d0:203:4cca:6::300—
MXhandbrake.frvm4.handbrake.fr3005
MXhandbrake.frvm5.handbrake.fr30010
NShandbrake.frns1.he.net300—
NShandbrake.frns2.he.net300—
NShandbrake.frns3.he.net300—
NShandbrake.frns4.he.net300—
NShandbrake.frns5.he.net300—
TXThandbrake.frgoogle-site-verification=ZoyzWGAVXRQmOASElDOzyXEv9LG4pXvy8Gq30r56nLI300—
TXThandbrake.frv=spf1 mx a a:vm4.handbrake.fr a:vm5.handbrake.fr ~all300—
CAAhandbrake.fr0 issue "letsencrypt.org"1800—
DMARC_dmarc.handbrake.frv=DMARC1;p=quarantine;sp=reject;pct=100;ruf=mailto:[email protected];ri=864000;aspf=r;adkim=r;fo=d;1800—

TLS and certificates

AssessmentNormal configuration
Supported protocolsTLSv1.2、TLSv1.3
Negotiated protocolTLSv1.3
Certificate subjecthandbrake.fr
IssuerLet's Encrypt
Valid until2026-11-07T05:55 · Remaining when checked: 44 days
Verification detailsCertificate trust: Passed · Hostname match: Passed

HTTP response headers

HeaderValue
content-typetext/html; charset=UTF-8
servernginx
strict-transport-securitymax-age=31536000; includeSubDomains; preload
content-security-policydefault-src 'none'; script-src 'self'; style-src 'self'; img-src 'self'; font-src 'self'; frame-src 'self' github.com https://objects.githubusercontent.com/ https://release-assets.githubusercontent.com/; frame-ancestors 'none'; form-action 'self'; base-uri 'self'; connect-src 'self'
x-frame-optionsSAMEORIGIN
x-content-type-optionsnosniff
referrer-policysame-origin
permissions-policyaccelerometer=(), ambient-light-sensor=(), autoplay=(), battery=(), camera=(), cross-origin-isolated=(), display-capture=(), document-domain=(), encrypted-media=(), execution-while-not-rendered=(), execution-while-out-of-viewport=(), fullscreen=(), geolocation=(), gyroscope=(), keyboard-map=(), magnetometer=(), microphone=(), midi=(), navigation-override=(), payment=(), picture-in-picture=(), publickey-credentials-get=(), screen-wake-lock=(), sync-xhr=(), usb=(), web-share=(), xr-spatial-tracking=(), clipboard-read=(), clipboard-write=(), gamepad=(), speaker-selection=(), conversion-measurement=(), focus-without-user-activation=(), hid=(), idle-detection=(), interest-cohort=(), serial=(), sync-script=(), trust-token-redemption=(), unload=(), window-placement=(), vertical-scroll=()

Identified technologies

nginx