A method comprising: encoding one or more source pictures into a bitstream, the encoding comprising one or more coding properties; and encoding a syntax structure indicating the one or more coding properties of the bitstream into or along the bitstream, wherein the syntax structure comprises: a first portion comprising one or more fixed syntax elements with one or more pre-defined lengths in bits at one or more pre-defined bit positions, and a second portion comprising one or more conditional syntax elements, wherein presence of the one or more conditional syntax elements is conditioned based on one or more values associated with the one or more fixed elements, wherein the second portion has a pre-defined length in bits, the pre-defined length in bits of the second portion being a fixed length or a variable length, and the pre-defined length in bits of the second portion is given with at least one syntax structure within the second portion, the syntax structure comprising at least one statement that defines the length of the second portion; wherein the second portion further comprises one or more of: a maximum bit depth for one or more luma sample arrays in the bitstream, a maximum bit depth for one or more chroma sample arrays in the bitstream, or one or more other coding property indications associated with the bitstream; wherein the one or more other coding property indications associated with the bitstream comprises one or more of: a progressive source content indication associated with the bitstream, an interlaced source content indication associated with the bitstream, one or more picture type indications associated with one or more pictures of the bitstream, one or more prediction types associated with the bitstream, a bitrate associated with the bitstream, or an indication of an independent non-base layer associated with the bitstream. encoding one or more source pictures into a bitstream, the encoding comprising one or more coding properties; and encoding a syntax structure indicating the one or more coding properties of the bitstream into or along the bitstream, wherein the syntax structure comprises: a first portion comprising one or more fixed syntax elements with one or more pre-defined lengths in bits at one or more pre-defined bit positions, and a second portion comprising one or more conditional syntax elements, wherein presence of the one or more conditional syntax elements is conditioned based on one or more values associated with the one or more fixed elements, wherein the second portion has a pre-defined length in bits, the pre-defined length in bits of the second portion being a fixed length or a variable length, and the pre-defined length in bits of the second portion is given with at least one syntax structure within the second portion, the syntax structure comprising at least one statement that defines the length of the second portion; wherein the second portion further comprises one or more of: a maximum bit depth for one or more luma sample arrays in the bitstream, a maximum bit depth for one or more chroma sample arrays in the bitstream, or one or more other coding property indications associated with the bitstream; wherein the one or more other coding property indications associated with the bitstream comprises one or more of: a progressive source content indication associated with the bitstream, an interlaced source content indication associated with the bitstream, one or more picture type indications associated with one or more pictures of the bitstream, one or more prediction types associated with the bitstream, a bitrate associated with the bitstream, or an indication of an independent non-base layer associated with the bitstream. a first portion comprising one or more fixed syntax elements with one or more pre-defined lengths in bits at one or more pre-defined bit positions, and a second portion comprising one or more conditional syntax elements, wherein presence of the one or more conditional syntax elements is conditioned based on one or more values associated with the one or more fixed elements, wherein the second portion has a pre-defined length in bits, the pre-defined length in bits of the second portion being a fixed length or a variable length, and the pre-defined length in bits of the second portion is given with at least one syntax structure within the second portion, the syntax structure comprising at least one statement that defines the length of the second portion; wherein the second portion further comprises one or more of: a maximum bit depth for one or more luma sample arrays in the bitstream, a maximum bit depth for one or more chroma sample arrays in the bitstream, or one or more other coding property indications associated with the bitstream; wherein the one or more other coding property indications associated with the bitstream comprises one or more of: a progressive source content indication associated with the bitstream, an interlaced source content indication associated with the bitstream, one or more picture type indications associated with one or more pictures of the bitstream, one or more prediction types associated with the bitstream, a bitrate associated with the bitstream, or an indication of an independent non-base layer associated with the bitstream.