Composite video combines chrominance (color) and luminance (brightness) information into a single analog video transmission. It contrasts with component video, which separates moving picture information into basic elements and transmits them individually. While component video is good for optimizing signal quality, composite video saves bandwidth and requires fewer connection ports.
Like component video, composite video was developed concurrently with the advent of color television. Also like component video, composite video is often transmitted via coaxial cables, but with only one connector (since all color and brightness information is encoded into one stream) and often paired with stereo audio connectors. In RCA format, these connectors are usually identified by color: yellow for the composite video signal, red for the right audio signal and white for the left audio signal.
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