--- title: "How does a computer monitor display images?" description: "How does a computer monitor display images?" author: "Mukul Goenka" published: 2023-10-08 updated: 2023-10-11 canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/102402/how-does-a-computer-monitor-display-images category: "hardware" tags: ["hard disk drives"] reading_time: 3 minutes --- # How does a computer monitor display images? ## Answers ### Answer by Saumya Mishra **A [computer monitor](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/102436/describe-the-features-of-a-high-resolution-computer-monitor) displays images by dividing the screen into a grid of tiny pixels. Each pixel is a square that can be assigned a specific color. The monitor then uses a light source to illuminate each pixel in the grid to create the image on the screen.** - Most modern [computer](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/102353/what-essential-parts-make-up-a-desktop-computer) monitors use a [technology](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/43990/4-reasons-why-startups-should-invest-in-good-technology) called **liquid crystal display (LCD)**. LCD monitors work by using a liquid crystal layer to control the amount of light that passes through each pixel. The liquid crystals are arranged between **two polarizing filters**, and when an [electric current](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/98356/how-does-a-human-body-conduct-an-electric-current) is applied to a crystal, it rotates, which allows more or less light to pass through. - To display an image, the computer sends a signal to the monitor that tells it which pixels to illuminate and how brightly to illuminate them. The monitor then uses the **liquid crystal layer** to control the amount of light that passes through each pixel, and the image is displayed on the screen. Here is a simplified [explanation](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/story/4966/why-the-peepal-tree-is-worshipped-the-scientific-explanation) of how an LCD monitor works: 1. **The computer sends a signal to the monitor that tells it which pixels to illuminate and how brightly to illuminate them.** 2. **The monitor uses the liquid crystal layer to control the amount of light that passes through each pixel.** 3. **The light source illuminates the liquid crystal layer.** 4. **The light passes through the polarizing filters and is displayed on the screen.** The number of pixels on a monitor is determined by its [resolution](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/80837/take-a-resolution-this-world-day-of-social-justice). The resolution is measured in pixels per inch (PPI), and the higher the resolution, the more pixels there are per inch and the sharper the image will be. Most [modern computer](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/157845/what-are-some-common-scene-understanding-algorithms-used-in-modern-computer-vision-applications) monitors have a resolution of at least **1920x1080** pixels, which is also known as **Full HD**. Some monitors have even higher resolutions, such as **2560x1440 pixels (2K) or 3840x2160 pixels (4K)**. In addition to resolution, there are a number of other factors that can affect the quality of the image on a monitor, such as: - **Contrast ratio:** The contrast ratio is the [difference](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/story/5016/chia-vs-basil-seeds-what-s-the-difference) between the brightest and darkest colors that the monitor can display. A higher contrast ratio will result in a sharper and more realistic image. - **Viewing angle:** The viewing angle is the angle at which you can still see the image clearly on the screen. A wider viewing angle will allow you to see the image clearly from a wider range of angles. - **Response time:** The response time is the amount of time it takes for a pixel to change from one color to another. A lower response time will result in smoother and less blurry images, especially when [watching videos](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/109133/what-to-do-if-my-computer-screen-goes-blank-while-watching-videos) or [playing games](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/36014/what-s-the-meaning-of-lol-xd-or-other-phrases-while-playing-games). --- Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/102402/how-does-a-computer-monitor-display-images Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.