An image is a visual representation of something, which can be a two-dimensional (2D) representation, such as a drawing, painting, or photograph, or a three-dimensional (3D) object, such as a carving or sculpture. In the context of signal processing, an image is a distributed amplitude of color(s), while in optics, the term "image" may refer specifically to a 2D image. An image can also be described in terms of vector graphics or raster graphics, and an image stored in raster form is sometimes called a bitmap. An image map is a file containing information that associates different locations on a specified image with hypertext links.
In the broader sense, images can also be rendered manually, such as by drawing, painting, or graphic arts, or rendered automatically by printing or computer graphics technology, or developed by a combination of methods. Moving images, such as videos, are also considered images.
In addition to visual representations, the term "image" can also refer to a set of values given by a mathematical function that corresponds to a particular subset of the domain imaged.
Overall, an image can take many forms and can be used to represent a wide range of things, from photographs and graphics to public perceptions of individuals or things.
