lécran

L'écran is a French noun that denotes a surface or device that displays images or information. In everyday usage, it most commonly refers to the display on a television, computer monitor, or mobile device. The term can also describe a barrier or partition designed to obscure, protect, or separate, such as a decorative screen in interior spaces. In standard French, the definite article elides with a preceding vowel, producing l'écran; the form lécran is not the conventional spelling outside stylized titles or branding.

In technology and media, l'écran designates the visual interface through which users view content. Common phrases include écran d’ordinateur (computer screen), écran tactile (touch screen), écran LCD or écran OLED (types of display technology), écran de télévision (television screen), and écran d’accueil or écran d’édition (home screen, lock screen). Image quality and usability considerations for an écran include resolution, pixel density, color fidelity, brightness, contrast, and viewing angles. The concept also extends to projection screens used in classrooms or cinemas.

In culture and design, l’écran appears in phrases such as grand écran to signify the cinema experience, and à l’écran to indicate something shown on screen. Beyond electronics, an écran can refer to a portable or fixed barrier used to partition spaces or provide privacy, reflecting the word’s broader sense of separation or protection.

See also: display technology, screen protection, screen saver, user interface.