High-Definition Multimedia Interface

What Does High-Definition Multimedia Interface Mean?

High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a standard digital interface for audio/video (A/V) connectivity. Pioneered early in the 21st century, the first HDMI equipment went into production in 2003. HDMI technology is now common in a wide range of consumer devices, including smartphones, digital video cameras and Blu-Ray or DVD devices. It carries an uncompressed digital signal that is adequate for high-definition audio and video presentations.

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Techopedia Explains High-Definition Multimedia Interface

HDMI represents an alternative to analog interfaces, such as RF coaxial cable, S-Video (or SCART) and VGA pin connector designs. The analog A/V cable is still a primary component of many multimedia devices, but HDMI is rapidly becoming the standard for equipment, such as high-definition plasma screen TVs.

There are five different types of HDMI connectors (A through E) with various numbers of pins and different specifications. Manufacturers have developed standards for HDMI including support for an sRGB color space and minimum audio capacity. HDMI also supports encryption and enables greater bandwidth than analog technologies.

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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…