The definition of a computer monitor is:
Definition
A monitor is responsible for showing information, images, and videos to computer users. They allow you to see what the computer is doing.
A more technical definition would go like this:
A computer monitor is an image output device. It receives information from a computer’s video card and displays it in an image format for you.
Difference between a computer monitor and TV
Did you notice that the definition above does not say anything about audio?
Indeed that's the main difference between a TV and a monitor. TVs have audio embedded while monitors do not.
Functions and uses of a computer monitor
As you can probably guess from my previous paragraph, a monitor can work like a TV. This how you do it:
But a computer monitor can also be used for:
- Reading text or photo editing.
- Work or home use.
- Other uses:
Types of monitors
- LCD
- LED
- OLED
But there others, like the obsolete CRT monitor.
There are also different panel types: IPS, TN, VA. Check the full list of monitor types:
Cables and connections
Monitors are also different depending on what cables and connections they have. Common connections are:
- HDMI
- DP (DisplayPort)
- USB-C
- DVI
- VGA
Check the full list and explanation of cables and connection types:
Image quality
Size
There are monitors of various sizes: The screen size is measured in inches (represents the diagonal).
Screen size is an important indicator of image quality, but it is not the only one.
Resolution
Higher resolution means better image quality.
Some common resolutions:
- 5k 5120 x 2880
- 4K 3840 x 2160 ("Ultra HD")
- 1440p 2560 x 1440
- 1080p 1920 x 1080 ("Full HD")
- 720p 1280 x 720 ("HD")
Some monitors come with HDR technology. Basically this allows your monitor to display more colors and have a better contrast.
Aspect ratio
The aspect ratio is a ratio between width and height. Typical monitor aspect ratios are:
- 4:3
- 16:9
- 21:9
Refresh rate
Faster is better. You get less blurry images.
Example: 120Hz is faster (better) than 60Hz.
So what is a good computer monitor refresh rate?
It depends on what are your needs. Most people will be satisfied with 60Hz while gamers will want a bit more.
Response time
It is the time it takes to change the color of a pixel. And shorter is better.
Example: 5 ms is faster (better) than 8 ms.
So what is a good computer monitor response time?
Again it depends on what are your needs. Most people will be satisfied with anything less than 20ms.
Life expectancy of a computer monitor
Computer monitors usually last for ten years on average. The average lifespan should be between 8 and 12 years.
Looking for a new Monitor?
Choosing a Monitor can be very difficult if you know nothing about technology.
Some will pay for features they do not need while others may not consider what they really want.
So I created this quick, newbie guide to help you focus on what is really important to you:
How to choose a computer monitor that best suits you…
Citation
When you need to include a fact or piece of information in an assignment or essay you should also include where and how you found that piece of information (What is a Computer Monitor).
That gives credibility to your paper and it is sometimes required in higher education.
To make your life (and citation) easier just copy and paste the information below into your assignment or essay:
Luz, Gelson. What is a Computer Monitor (Definition, Types, Quality and more). Technology Blog. Gelsonluz.com. dd mmmm. yyyy. URL.
Now replace dd, mmmm and yyyy with the day, month, and year you browsed this page. Also replace URL for the actual url of this page. This citation format is based on MLA.
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