On-Screen Display

What Does On-Screen Display Mean?

An on-screen display (OSD) is a strategically arranged control set that appears on a computer monitor, television screen, VCR or DVD player. The OSD allows users to select viewing options or adjust display characteristics, such as contrast, brightness and vertical/horizontal image or video positioning.

Advertisements

Techopedia Explains On-Screen Display

The OSD may be activated by buttons at the bottom of a computer monitor or via software. On a TV, VCR or DVD player, the OSD may be activated by buttons or via a remote control. Users may also be able to view or set program searches, information, and/or parental control with certain channels.

Computer software may use OSD as support for enhanced keyboard, audio controls, music track selections, almanac data, and access to background programs, which may be built into the operating system.

Advertisements

Related Terms

Related Reading

Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…