Glossary
TV, streaming and Wi-Fi terms, in plain English
27 terms, each defined in one or two sentences. Start typing to narrow the list.
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- 4K (Ultra HD)
- A screen resolution of about 3,840 by 2,160 pixels, roughly four times the detail of 1080p. The extra sharpness is easiest to see on larger screens.
- Aspect ratio
- The shape of a screen or picture written as width to height, such as 16:9. Most TVs and streaming shows use 16:9.
- Bandwidth
- The amount of data an internet connection can move each second, measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Higher bandwidth lets more devices stream at once.
- Bitrate
- How much data a video stream uses per second. A higher bitrate usually means a cleaner picture, but it also needs a faster connection.
- Bluetooth
- A short-range wireless link used by some remotes, headphones and soundbars. It works through walls and cabinets, unlike infrared.
- Buffer
- A small reserve of video your device downloads ahead of what you are watching. A healthy buffer keeps playback smooth when the connection dips.
- CEC (Consumer Electronics Control)
- An HDMI feature that lets devices control each other, so a TV remote can adjust a soundbar’s volume. Each brand gives it its own trade name.
- DNS (Domain Name System)
- The internet’s address book. It turns names like streamzy.co into the numeric addresses computers use to reach a site.
- Dolby Atmos
- A surround sound format that adds a sense of height, so audio can seem to come from above. It needs Atmos-capable content and speakers.
- eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel)
- An upgraded HDMI audio feature that sends full-quality surround sound, including Dolby Atmos, from a TV back to a soundbar or receiver.
- Ethernet
- A wired network connection using a cable between your device and router. It is steadier than Wi-Fi because nothing in the air can interfere with it.
- HDR (High Dynamic Range)
- Video that keeps more detail in very bright and very dark areas of the picture. Common formats include HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision.
- HDCP
- A copy-protection system built into HDMI connections. If a cable or port does not support the required version, a paid stream may refuse to play or drop in quality.
- HDMI
- The standard cable and connector that carries video and audio between a TV and devices like players, consoles and soundbars.
- Input lag
- The delay between pressing a button and seeing the result on screen. It matters most for gaming, and many TVs have a game mode that reduces it.
- Latency
- The time it takes for data to travel from your device to a service and back, measured in milliseconds. Lower latency makes apps and menus feel more responsive.
- Mbps (Megabits per second)
- The unit used to measure internet speed. Note that megabits are different from megabytes: 8 megabits make 1 megabyte.
- Mesh Wi-Fi
- A set of two or more matching Wi-Fi units that spread one network across a home. It helps in houses where a single router cannot reach every room.
- Modem
- The box that connects your home to your internet provider’s network. It is different from a router, which shares that connection around your home.
- Optical audio (TOSLINK)
- A light-based audio cable that carries stereo or compressed surround sound from a TV to a soundbar or receiver. It cannot carry the newest surround formats.
- Refresh rate
- How many times per second a TV redraws the picture, written in hertz (Hz). Most shows and movies play at rates every modern TV handles easily.
- Resolution
- The number of pixels that make up a picture, such as 1,920 by 1,080. More pixels can mean a sharper image, especially on bigger screens.
- Router
- The device that shares your internet connection with everything in your home, over Wi-Fi and Ethernet cables. Its position in the house strongly affects Wi-Fi quality.
- SSID
- The name a Wi-Fi network shows when you browse available networks. One router can broadcast several names, for example one per band or a guest network.
- Streaming device
- A small stick or box that plugs into a TV’s HDMI port and runs streaming apps, adding smart features to almost any screen.
- UPnP (Universal Plug and Play)
- A set of network shortcuts that lets devices find and talk to each other automatically. It is convenient, though some people turn it off for tighter security.
- Wi-Fi 6 / 6E
- Newer Wi-Fi standards designed to handle many devices at once with less congestion. Wi-Fi 6E adds the 6 GHz band, which has more room and less interference.