Widedefinition

Widedefinition is a term that emerged in the early days of digital television, primarily referring to a display resolution of 1280 pixels wide by 720 pixels tall, often denoted as 720p. This resolution offered a significant improvement in picture clarity compared to the standard definition (SD) resolutions of the past, such as 480i or 576i. The "p" in 720p stands for progressive scan, meaning each frame is displayed as a complete image, unlike interlaced scanning (i) which alternates between odd and even lines, resulting in a smoother and more stable picture.

While widedefinition, or 720p, was a groundbreaking step, it was eventually surpassed by higher resolutions like Full High Definition (1080p) and Ultra High Definition (4K and 8K). However, 720p remained a common broadcast standard for many years and is still used for certain applications where bandwidth is a consideration or where the difference in visual fidelity is less critical. Its widespread adoption laid the groundwork for the even more immersive visual experiences we enjoy today. The term "widedefinition" itself is less commonly used now, with resolutions typically being referred to by their specific pixel counts and progressive scan notation.