frameráta

Frameráta, commonly called frame rate, is the number of individual frames shown per second in a sequence of images. It is typically expressed as frames per second (fps) or, when describing timing, in hertz (Hz). The frameráta affects the perceived smoothness of motion and the responsiveness of an interactive system; higher values generally produce smoother motion but require more data to capture, encode, transmit, and render.

Common values: cinema and film historically use 24 fps; traditional television uses 25 fps (PAL) or 29.97 fps (NTSC); contemporary video and games often use 60 fps, and many high-action titles target 120 fps or higher on capable hardware. Some streaming services and cameras also support variable frameráta, where the number of frames per second changes over time.

Frameráta is related but not identical to a display's refresh rate—the rate at which a screen redraws pixels. If the source frameráta exceeds the display's refresh rate, frames may be dropped or interpolated; conversely, a higher display refresh rate can showcase more frames if the source supplies them. Technologies such as vertical synchronization (vsync) and adaptive sync (G-Sync/FreeSync) help reduce tearing and stuttering.

Practical considerations: choosing a frameráta involves balancing motion smoothness, latency, and bandwidth. In filmmaking, 24 fps is standard; for live sports and action video, higher rates reduce motion blur; for video games and virtual reality, high frameráta improves interactivity but increases hardware and network requirements.