The present technology relates to an encoding device and method, a decoding device and method, and a program, which are adapted to be capable of improving convenience.
The decoding device is provided with: a decoding unit that decodes audio data including an object audio, the audio data being included in an encoded bit stream, and reads metadata of the object audio from an area in which arbitrary data of the encoded bit stream can be stored; and an output unit that outputs the decoded audio data on the basis of the metadata. The present technology can be applied to the decoding device.