DisplayPort

What Does DisplayPort Mean?

DisplayPort is a video standard interface developed by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA). Originally developed as the next-generation personal computer display interface, DisplayPort is now found in many devices such as computers, laptops, notebooks, monitors and digital televisions as display inputs. Compared to other alternatives, DisplayPort has many advantages such as robustness, high display performance, greater system integration and better interoperability among different devices.

Techopedia Explains DisplayPort

DisplayPort is based on updated signal and protocol technology and is considered an alternative to technologies like digital visual interface (DVI) and video graphics array (VGA). The primary function of DisplayPort is to interface between a video source and a display device like a monitor. It is capable of transmitting both audio and video simultaneously as well separately. By making use of the packetized data structure and common signal technology, DisplayPort can work in combination with other standards like Thunderbolt and USB. DisplayPort is designed for low power implementation with high performance along with usage in space-constrained applications. This is one of the reasons why it is widely used in many applications where connector space is a constraint and high display performance is required.

There are many advantages of using DisplayPort over other alternatives. It is license free and royalty free, resulting in cheaper production. It provides a stable and robust audio/video link and requires less RF shielding. Compared to standard cables, it has high resolutions, faster refresh rates and deeper color depths. It is backward and forward extensible with display adapters available for legacy display types. DisplayPort is highly extensible, resulting in users and consumers not needing to change any hardware. It has good compatibility with digital visual interface and high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) and has multi-monitor capabilities.

However, its resolution capabilities are slightly lower than HDMI and it is also less suited for home theater and television than HDMI.