Welcome to Our Glossary
Welcome to the ScreenExtendersHub comprehensive glossary! We’ve compiled this extensive list of terms related to screen extenders, portable monitors, and display technology to help you navigate the sometimes confusing technical jargon. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or a first-time buyer, this glossary will help you understand the specifications and features mentioned in our reviews and buying guides.
A
Adaptive Sync
A technology that synchronizes the refresh rate of a display with the frame rate output of a graphics card, reducing screen tearing and stuttering. Includes technologies like AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync.
Ambient Light Sensor
A sensor built into some screen extenders that automatically adjusts screen brightness based on surrounding light conditions, improving visibility and reducing eye strain.
Anti-Glare Coating
A matte finish is applied to screens that diffuse light reflections, reducing glare in bright environments and making content easier to view.
Aspect Ratio
The proportional relationship between a display’s width and height. Common ratios include 16:9 (widescreen), 16:10 (slightly taller), and 3:2 (often used in tablets and some laptops).
Auto-Rotate
A feature that automatically adjusts screen orientation (portrait or landscape) when the display is physically rotated, using a built-in accelerometer.
B
Backlight
The light source behind an LCD panel that illuminates the display. Most modern screen extenders use LED backlighting for energy efficiency.
Bandwidth
The maximum rate of data transfer through a digital connection. Higher bandwidth connections (like HDMI 2.1 or Thunderbolt) support higher resolutions and refresh rates.
Bezel
The frame or border surrounding a display screen. “Slim bezel” or “bezel-less” designs maximize screen area while minimizing the overall footprint.
Bit Depth
Determines how many colors a display can produce. 8-bit panels can display 16.7 million colors, while 10-bit panels can show over 1 billion colors.
Brightness
Measured in nits or cd/m² (candela per square meter), this indicates how much light a display emits. Higher brightness (300+ nits) is better for outdoor use.
Blue Light Filter
A feature that reduces blue light emissions from screens may help reduce eye strain and improve sleep when using devices at night.
C
Calibration
The process of adjusting a display’s color output to match standard color spaces, ensuring accurate color reproduction for creative work.
Chroma Subsampling
A compression technique that reduces color information in a video signal. Commonly seen in specifications as 4:4:4 (no compression), 4:2:2, or 4:2:0 (more compression).
Clip-On Extender
A screen extender that physically attaches to the side or back of a laptop display, often sliding out when needed and retracting when not in use.
Color Gamut
The range of colors a display can reproduce. Common standards include sRGB (web standard), Adobe RGB (print work), and DCI-P3 (digital cinema).
Contrast Ratio
The difference between the brightest whites and darkest blacks a display can produce. Higher contrast ratios provide more depth and detail in images.
Curved Display
A screen with a gentle curve designed to match the natural curve of human vision, potentially reducing eye strain and providing a more immersive viewing experience.
D
Daisy Chaining
Connecting multiple displays in sequence through a single port on the computer, with each display connecting to the next in line.
DDC (Display Data Channel)
A communication channel between a computer and a display that allows the computer to query the display’s capabilities and adjust settings automatically.
Display Scaling
Adjusting the size of on-screen elements to appear larger or smaller is often used to make text more readable on high-resolution displays.
DisplayPort
A digital display interface designed to connect video sources to display devices, offering high bandwidth for high resolutions and refresh rates.
DPI (Dots Per Inch)
A measure of spatial dot density is used to indicate the resolution of an image. A higher DPI means more detail in the same physical space.
Dual-Screen Setup
A configuration using two displays simultaneously, either through a primary laptop screen plus an extender or two separate external displays.
E
EDID (Extended Display Identification Data)
Data is provided by a digital display to describe its capabilities to a video source, including supported resolutions and refresh rates.
eGPU (External Graphics Processing Unit)
An external enclosure containing a desktop graphics card that connects to a laptop to provide additional graphics processing power for displays.
Extended Desktop
A multi-display configuration where each screen shows different content, effectively expanding the desktop space across multiple displays.
Eye-Care Technology
A collection of features designed to reduce eye strain, including blue light filters, flicker reduction, and brightness adjustment technologies.
F
Flickering
Rapid variation in screen brightness is often imperceptible to the naked eye but potentially causes eye strain. “Flicker-free” technology reduces this effect.
FPS (Frames Per Second)
The frequency at which consecutive images appear on a display. Higher FPS provides smoother motion in videos and games.
FreeSync
AMD’s adaptive sync technology that synchronizes a display’s refresh rate with a compatible graphics card’s frame rate to eliminate screen tearing.
Full HD
A display resolution of 1920×1080 pixels, also known as 1080p, commonly used in screen extenders and portable monitors.
G
G-Sync
NVIDIA’s proprietary adaptive sync technology synchronizes a display’s refresh rate with a compatible NVIDIA graphics card’s frame rate.
Ghosting
A visual artifact where a faint image of a previously displayed element remains visible when new content appears. Often seen in displays with slow response times.
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)
The specialized processor is responsible for rendering images, video, and animations to be displayed on the screen.
Gray-to-Gray Response Time
The time it takes for a pixel to transition from one shade of gray to another is measured in milliseconds (ms). Lower values reduce motion blur.
H
HDR (High Dynamic Range)
A technology that expands the contrast and color range of displays, allowing for brighter highlights, deeper blacks, and more vivid colors.
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)
A digital audio/video interface that transmits uncompressed video data and compressed or uncompressed digital audio data from a source to a display.
HDMI CEC (Consumer Electronics Control)
A feature that allows users to control multiple HDMI-connected devices with a single remote control.
Horizontal Alignment
The technology is used in some LCD panels where crystals are aligned horizontally, offering better viewing angles but typically slower response times.
Hybrid-Signal Solution
Display technologies that can accept both analog and digital input signals, providing broader compatibility with different devices.
I
IPS (In-Plane Switching)
An LCD panel technology that offers superior color reproduction and viewing angles compared to TN panels, commonly used in premium screen extenders.
Input Lag
The delay between when a signal is sent to a display and when the display shows the result, measured in milliseconds. Lower input lag is better for gaming and interactive applications.
Integrated Stand
A built-in support mechanism that allows a portable monitor or screen extender to stand upright without additional accessories.
Interlaced Scanning
A display technique where alternate lines of pixels are updated in each refresh cycle. Less common now than progressive scanning.
K
Kickstand
A fold-out support on the back of some portable monitors that props the display at various angles on a flat surface.
KVM Switch
A hardware device that allows users to control multiple computers from a single keyboard, video display, and mouse setup.
L
Landscape Mode
The orientation of a display where the width is greater than the height is commonly used for most computing tasks.
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
A flat panel display technology that uses liquid crystals to modulate light. Most screen extenders use LCD technology.
LED (Light-Emitting Diode)
A semiconductor light source is used for backlighting LCD displays, offering better energy efficiency and thinner profiles than older technologies.
Local Dimming
A technique that allows different areas of an LED-backlit display to be dimmed independently, improving contrast ratio.
M
Mini DisplayPort
A smaller version of the DisplayPort interface is often found on laptops and ultraportable devices.
Mini-LED
A display backlighting technology that uses thousands of tiny LEDs, offering better control over local dimming and improved contrast ratio.
Mirror Mode
A display configuration where all connected screens show identical content is useful for presentations and demonstrations.
Mobile Extender
A screen extender specifically designed for use with mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, often with compact and lightweight designs.
MST (Multi-Stream Transport)
A DisplayPort feature that allows multiple independent displays to be driven from a single DisplayPort output.
Multi-Monitor Setup
A configuration using three or more displays simultaneously to maximize workspace and productivity.
N
Native Resolution
The specific pixel resolution at which a display produces the clearest image. Using non-native resolutions may result in reduced image quality.
Night Mode
A display setting that reduces blue light emission and adjusts color temperature for more comfortable viewing in low-light environments.
Nits
A unit of measurement for luminance or brightness equal to one candela per square meter (cd/m²). Higher values indicate brighter displays.
O
OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode)
A display technology where each pixel emits its own light, allowing for perfect blacks, high contrast ratios, and vibrant colors. Less common in screen extenders due to higher cost.
On-Screen Display (OSD)
The menu system is built into displays that allow users to adjust settings like brightness, contrast, and color balance.
Overclocking (Display)
The practice of running a display at a higher refresh rate than officially specified may improve motion clarity but risks stability issues.
P
Panel Type
The technology used in the display panel, such as TN, IPS, VA, or OLED, each with different characteristics regarding color accuracy, response time, and viewing angles.
Pass-Through Charging
A feature that allows a screen extender to deliver power to a connected laptop while receiving a video signal, requiring only one connection for both functions.
PBP (Picture by Picture)
A feature that displays multiple input sources simultaneously on a single screen, with each source occupying a portion of the display.
PD (Power Delivery)
A USB standard that allows for higher power delivery over USB connections, used in screen extenders to power both the display and connected devices.
PPI (Pixels Per Inch)
A measurement of pixel density indicates how many pixels are packed into one inch of display. Higher PPI results in sharper images.
Portrait Mode
The orientation of a display where the height is greater than the width is often used for reading documents or scrolling through web pages.
Progressive Scanning
A display method where all lines in each frame are drawn in sequence, as opposed to interlaced scanning. Denoted by the “p” in 1080p.
Q
QHD (Quad High Definition)
A display resolution of 2560×1440 pixels, also known as 1440p or 2K, offers higher detail than Full HD.
Quantum Dot
A display technology that uses semiconductor nanocrystals to enhance color accuracy and brightness in LED-backlit displays.
R
Refresh Rate
The number of times per second that a display updates its image is measured in Hertz (Hz). Higher refresh rates provide smoother motion.
Resolution
The number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed is typically expressed as width × height (e.g., 1920×1080).
RGB Color Space
A color model that represents colors as combinations of red, green, and blue light is used in electronic displays.
Response Time
The time it takes for a pixel to change from one color to another is measured in milliseconds (ms). Lower values reduce motion blur.
S
Scaling
The process of resizing an image to fit a display with a different resolution than the source content.
Screen Mirroring
Duplicating the content of one display onto another, also known as mirroring or duplicate display mode.
Screen Splitting
Software or hardware features that divide a single display into multiple virtual workspaces.
SDR (Standard Dynamic Range)
The traditional range of luminance in displays contrasted with the expanded range offered by HDR technology.
Side-Mounted Extender
A screen extender that attaches to the side of a laptop, often using magnetic or mechanical connections.
Sliding Screen
A screen extender design where the additional display slides out from behind the main laptop screen when needed.
SST (Single-Stream Transport)
A DisplayPort transmission mode that sends a single video stream to a display.
Stylus Support
The ability of a display to recognize and respond to input from a digital pen or stylus is useful for note-taking and drawing.
Subpixel
The individual red, green, and blue components that make up each pixel in an RGB display.
Super-Resolution
Technology that upscales lower-resolution content to appear sharper on high-resolution displays.
T
Thunderbolt
A high-speed hardware interface developed by Intel that combines data transfer, video output, and power delivery in a single connection.
Tiling
A multi-display configuration technique where screens are arranged side-by-side to form a larger, continuous display area.
TN (Twisted Nematic)
LCD panel technology is known for its fast response times but limited viewing angles and color reproduction compared to IPS panels.
Touch Screen
A display that can detect the presence and location of touch input within the display area, allowing for direct interaction.
Triple-Display Setup
A configuration using three displays simultaneously to maximize workspace, typically arranged side-by-side or in an arc.
U
UFGT (Ultra-Fast Gray-to-Gray Time)
A measurement of how quickly pixels can change from one shade of gray to another is important for reducing motion blur.
UHD (Ultra High Definition)
A display resolution of 3840×2160 pixels, also known as 4K, offers four times the pixel count of Full HD.
USB-C
A versatile connector and cable standard that can transmit data, video signals, and power, commonly used in modern screen extenders.
USB Hub
A feature in some screen extenders that provides additional USB ports for connecting peripherals.
V
VA (Vertical Alignment)
An LCD panel technology that offers better contrast ratios than IPS, with good color reproduction but typically slower response times.
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
A technology that allows a display to dynamically adjust its refresh rate to match the frame rate of the content being displayed.
Vertical Refresh Rate
The number of times per second that a display draws a new image is measured in Hertz (Hz).
Viewing Angle
The maximum angle at which a display can be viewed with acceptable visual performance, measured in degrees horizontally and vertically.
W
Widescreen
A display with an aspect ratio wider than the traditional 4:3 ratio, typically 16:9 or 16:10.
Wireless Display
A screen extender that connects to a computer without physical cables using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or proprietary wireless technologies.
Workspace Extender
Another term for screen extenders emphasizes their role in expanding usable desktop space for productivity.
X
XDR (Extreme Dynamic Range)
Apple’s implementation of HDR technology offers exceptional brightness and contrast capabilities.
Y
YCbCr
A color space is used in video processing, where Y represents luminance, Cb is blue-difference, and Cr is red-difference.
Z
Zero-Bezel Design
A display design with minimal visible borders around the screen, maximizing the visible display area and allowing for cleaner multi-monitor setups.
Zone Dimming
A display feature that divides the backlight into multiple zones that can be independently controlled, improving contrast ratio and black levels.
0-9
4K UHD
A display resolution of 3840×2160 pixels, providing four times the resolution of Full HD (1080p).
5K
A display resolution of approximately 5120×2880 pixels, offering even higher detail than 4K.
8-bit Panel
A display capable of producing 256 shades per color channel (RGB), resulting in about 16.7 million possible colors.
10-bit Panel
A display capable of producing 1,024 shades per color channel (RGB), resulting in over 1 billion possible colors, beneficial for professional color work.
21:9 Aspect Ratio
An ultrawide screen format that provides significantly more horizontal space than standard 16:9 displays, popular for multitasking and immersive content.
60Hz/75Hz/144Hz
Common refresh rates for displays indicate how many frames are shown per second. Higher values provide smoother motion.
NOTE:
If you encounter a term related to displays or screen extenders that isn’t included here, please let us know through our contact form. Our team is committed to making technical information accessible to everyone, from tech novices to experienced professionals.