720p

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720p

720p refers to a video resolution of 1280×720 pixels, with “p” indicating progressive scan, meaning the entire image is refreshed each time the screen is updated. It is commonly used as a standard resolution for high-definition (HD) displays and content.

What does 720p mean?

720p is a video resolution that measures 1280 pixels wide and 720 pixels tall. It is commonly used for high-definition (HD) television and video streaming. The “p” in 720p stands for “progressive,” which means that the entire frame is drawn at once, unlike Interlaced video, which draws the frame in two passes.

720p is a lower resolution than 1080p, which measures 1920 pixels wide and 1080 pixels tall. However, 720p still provides a high-quality viewing experience, especially for smaller screens such as laptops and smartphones.

Applications

720p is widely used in a variety of applications, including:

  • Television broadcasting: Many HD television channels broadcast in 720p, providing a higher resolution than standard definition (SD) television.
  • Streaming video: Popular streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube offer 720p as an option for HD video streaming.
  • Video games: Many video games are designed to run at 720p, especially on lower-powered devices such as laptops and mobile phones.
  • DVDs and Blu-rays: Some DVDs and Blu-rays include 720p video content, providing a higher resolution than standard DVDs.

History

The development of 720p began in the early 2000s with the introduction of HD television. The first HD television sets were capable of displaying 720p content, and many early HD broadcasts were produced in this resolution.

As HD technology became more widespread, 1080p emerged as the dominant resolution for high-end TVs and Blu-rays. However, 720p remained popular for streaming video and other applications where file size and Bandwidth were important considerations.

Today, 720p is still widely used alongside 1080p and other higher resolutions. It offers a good balance of image quality, file size, and bandwidth requirements, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.