onscreen

Onscreen, often written as on-screen or onscreen, is a term used in digital media and computing to describe elements that are rendered on a display. It encompasses text, graphics, video, and user interface components that appear directly on a screen, as opposed to content that exists off-screen or is conveyed through audio alone.

In film, television, and video production, onscreen elements include subtitles, captions, titles, overlays, and graphical annotations. The term also describes what is visible to viewers during a scene, contrasted with off-screen sound or dialogue that comes from a source not visible on camera.

In devices such as televisions, cameras, and projectors, an onscreen display (OSD) provides status information and controls as a visual overlay, typically showing volume, brightness, menu options, and input selection.

In accessibility and input technology, onscreen input methods, such as an onscreen keyboard, enable interaction on devices lacking a physical keyboard, particularly touchscreens.

Usage notes: "on-screen" remains a common hyphenated form when used as a modifier (for example, on-screen graphics), while "onscreen" appears in branding or product names and as a general noun form in some styles.

See also: On-screen display, subtitles, captions, heads-up display, user interface, overlay (computer graphics).