HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface. It is a digital interface that allows for the transmission of uncompressed video data and compressed or uncompressed digital audio data from an HDMI-compliant source device, such as a display controller, to a compatible computer monitor, video projector, digital television, or digital audio device. HDMI is a proprietary specification designed to ensure compatibility between video and audio devices over a single cable. It is a digital replacement for analog video standards.
HDMI has several features that make it a popular choice for connecting devices, including:
- Audio Return Channel (ARC): This feature sends audio from a TV to an amplifier or audio/video receiver or soundbar.
- Multichannel digital audio formats: HDMI supports multichannel digital audio formats.
- Three-dimensional (3D) video: HDMI supports 3D video.
- Auto lip-sync: This feature synchronizes audio and video.
- Consumer Electronics Control commands: These commands enable a single remote to control multiple devices.
- Deep color: HDMI supports deep color.
HDMI is a standard governed by the HDMI Forum, which is a group of over 80 companies that vote to determine how HDMI works today and how new extensions of the standard will work in the future. HDMI can carry both a video and an audio signal, making it a convenient one-plug solution for high-definition digital video. Different types of HDMI cables are available, and the choice of which one to use depends on the application.
