A method of decoding an encoded representation of a picture of a video stream of multiple pictures , said method comprising: retrieving (S30) buffer description information defining at least one reference picture from a data structure included in said encoded representation of said picture ; determining (S31), based on said buffer description information, at least one picture identifier identifying a reference picture among said at least one reference picture as decoding reference for said picture ; and updating (S32) a decoded picture buffer based on said at least one picture identifier by marking (S70) all reference pictures present in said decoded picture buffer and not being associated with any of said at least one picture identifier determined based on said buffer description information as unused for reference, and decoding (S33) said picture based on said encoded representation of said picture and at least one reference picture present in said decoded picture buffer , wherein decoding said picture is performed after updating said decoded picture buffer , characterized in that said buffer description information defines said at least one reference picture in an absolute and explicit way by means of said encoded representation of said picture which contains in said data structure the information about which reference picture to use for reference during decoding, independently of the encoded representation of previous pictures in the video stream, and wherein determining (S31) said at least one picture identifier identifying a reference picture comprises: retrieving (S40), based on said buffer description information, a respective delta identifier and calculating (S41) said at least one picture identifier identifying a reference picture ; based on a picture identifier identifying said picture and said respective delta identifier. retrieving (S30) buffer description information defining at least one reference picture from a data structure included in said encoded representation of said picture ; determining (S31), based on said buffer description information, at least one picture identifier identifying a reference picture among said at least one reference picture as decoding reference for said picture ; and updating (S32) a decoded picture buffer based on said at least one picture identifier by marking (S70) all reference pictures present in said decoded picture buffer and not being associated with any of said at least one picture identifier determined based on said buffer description information as unused for reference, and decoding (S33) said picture based on said encoded representation of said picture and at least one reference picture present in said decoded picture buffer , wherein decoding said picture is performed after updating said decoded picture buffer , characterized in that said buffer description information defines said at least one reference picture in an absolute and explicit way by means of said encoded representation of said picture which contains in said data structure the information about which reference picture to use for reference during decoding, independently of the encoded representation of previous pictures in the video stream, and wherein determining (S31) said at least one picture identifier identifying a reference picture comprises: retrieving (S40), based on said buffer description information, a respective delta identifier and calculating (S41) said at least one picture identifier identifying a reference picture ; based on a picture identifier identifying said picture and said respective delta identifier. <EOS>