diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/video/video-hdr.c b/gst-libs/gst/video/video-hdr.c
index 5f924cd1e0..3486c77f13 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/video/video-hdr.c
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/video/video-hdr.c
@@ -45,6 +45,48 @@
   (m)->max_display_mastering_luminance, \
   (m)->min_display_mastering_luminance
 
+/**
+ * gst_video_hdr_format_to_string:
+ * @format: a #GstVideoHDRFormat
+ *
+ * Returns: (nullable): a string containing a descriptive name for
+ * the #GstVideoHDRFormat if there is one, or %NULL otherwise.
+ *
+ * Since: 1.20
+ */
+const gchar *
+gst_video_hdr_format_to_string (GstVideoHDRFormat format)
+{
+  switch (format) {
+    case GST_VIDEO_HDR_FORMAT_HDR10:
+      return "hdr10";
+    case GST_VIDEO_HDR_FORMAT_HDR10_PLUS:
+      return "hdr10+";
+    default:
+      return NULL;
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * gst_video_hdr_format_from_string:
+ * @format: (nullable): a #GstVideoHDRFormat
+ *
+ * Returns: the #GstVideoHDRFormat for @format or GST_VIDEO_HDR_FORMAT_NONE when the
+ * string is not a known format.
+ *
+ * Since: 1.20
+ */
+GstVideoHDRFormat
+gst_video_hdr_format_from_string (const gchar * format)
+{
+  if (!g_strcmp0 (format, "hdr10"))
+    return GST_VIDEO_HDR_FORMAT_HDR10;
+  else if (!g_strcmp0 (format, "hdr10+"))
+    return GST_VIDEO_HDR_FORMAT_HDR10_PLUS;
+
+  return GST_VIDEO_HDR_FORMAT_NONE;
+}
+
 /**
  * gst_video_mastering_display_info_init:
  * @minfo: a #GstVideoMasteringDisplayInfo
diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/video/video-hdr.h b/gst-libs/gst/video/video-hdr.h
index 54d6e3af91..57c038dbea 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/video/video-hdr.h
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/video/video-hdr.h
@@ -56,6 +56,12 @@ typedef struct _GstVideoContentLightLevel GstVideoContentLightLevel;
 typedef struct _GstVideoHDR10Plus GstVideoHDR10Plus;
 typedef struct _GstVideoColorVolumeTransformation GstVideoColorVolumeTransformation;
 
+GST_VIDEO_API
+const gchar* gst_video_hdr_format_to_string (GstVideoHDRFormat format) G_GNUC_CONST;
+
+GST_VIDEO_API
+GstVideoHDRFormat gst_video_hdr_format_from_string (const gchar* format) G_GNUC_CONST;
+
 /**
  * GstVideoHDRMeta:
  * @meta: parent #GstMeta