screenshares

Screen sharing, or screensharing, is a feature in collaboration software that allows a user to broadcast the contents of their computer screen to other participants in a session. It enables real-time viewing of applications, documents, or desktops for presentations, demonstrations, or collaborative work.

Technically, a host's client captures the display or selected windows using platform APIs (such as getDisplayMedia on the web) and encodes the video for transmission over the network, typically via WebRTC or a proprietary protocol. Some platforms also transmit audio from the source and allow sharing of a specific window or browser tab rather than the entire screen.

Common modes include sharing the full screen, a single application window, or a browser tab; audio sharing may be included; many systems offer the option of remote control with permission.

Applications span business meetings, customer support, education, software demonstrations, and remote troubleshooting, and can reduce the need for in-person sessions.

Privacy and security considerations include consent prompts, the ability to pause or stop sharing, and the option to restrict visibility to certain content. Shares are typically encrypted in transit, but users should be mindful of exposed sensitive data, and DRM-protected content may be blocked from capture.

Limitations include dependence on network bandwidth and latency, potential performance impact on the host device, platform differences, and restrictions on capturing certain content.

Alternatives and related concepts include remote desktop access and collaborative editing tools that allow shared work without mirroring the entire screen.