Nepedia
Back to Discover
Fluent Reader
💻

HDMI

technology Maturity 9-11 Next article →

HDMI is a way to send high-quality video and sound signals.

HDMI-Kabel
HDMI-Kabel

It uses a single cable to carry both signals at once. This makes it easy to connect many different things. You might use it for a television or a computer monitor.

HDMI.socket
HDMI.socket

It also works for gaming consoles and projectors. Because it can carry both sound and video, it replaced older ways of connecting devices. These older ways included things like VGA or S-Video. HDMI is now one of the most used ways to connect electronics in the world.

This system works by using special digital signals.

HDMI wires
HDMI wires

It uses a method called TMDS to send data. This method sends video, audio, and extra data in different packets. First, it sends the video pixels during a video data period. Next, it uses a data island period to send audio and other info.

HDMI Connector Pinout
HDMI Connector Pinout

It also uses a Display Data Channel, or DDC. This channel lets a device talk to a screen to learn what it can do. This way, the two devices can set themselves up automatically.

Many companies worked together to create HDMI.

550 S. Winchester Blvd
550 S. Winchester Blvd

The founders included Hitachi, Panasonic, Sony, and Toshiba. Other companies like Philips and Silicon Image also helped. They began working on the first version on April 16, 2002. Their goal was to make a connector that worked with older DVI signals.

DVI-HDMI-Adapter
DVI-HDMI-Adapter

This is why you can use an adapter to connect them easily. The first testing center opened in California in June 2003. Later, centers opened in Japan, France, China, and India.

HDMI has grown very fast since it started.

HDMI Connector Types
HDMI Connector Types

In 2004, only 5 million HDMI devices were sold. By 2007, that number grew to 143 million. By 2008, there were over 850 companies using the HDMI standard.

MicroHDMI Rpi4
MicroHDMI Rpi4

Today, nearly 14 billion HDMI-enabled devices have been sold worldwide. There are also different sizes of plugs for different needs. You can find large plugs, or Mini and Micro HDMI. The smaller ones are perfect for tablets and camcorders.

HDMI has many smart features that help our gadgets work together.

HDMI 1.4 with Audio Return Channel
HDMI 1.4 with Audio Return Channel

One feature is called CEC. This lets one remote control many different devices. Another is called ARC, or Audio Return Channel. This lets sound travel back from a TV to a sound system.

Acer Swift 3 rear-left edge
Acer Swift 3 rear-left edge

Newer versions can even show 3D video and many colors. It is a very helpful tool that connects our digital world. You can see it in almost every home today.

406 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (14)
File:HDMI Connector Pinout.svg
HDMI Connector Pinout.svg
File:DVI-HDMI-Adapter.jpg
DVI-HDMI-Adapter.jpg
File:Adapter dvi hdmi S7302224 wp.jpg
Adapter dvi hdmi S7302224 wp.jpg
File:HDMI Connector Types.png
HDMI Connector Types.png
File:Mini micro HDMI Stecker by NicoJenner.jpg
Mini micro HDMI Stecker by NicoJenner.jpg
File:HDMI.socket.png
HDMI.socket.png
File:MicroHDMI Rpi4.jpg
MicroHDMI Rpi4.jpg
File:HDMI-Kabel.jpg
HDMI-Kabel.jpg
File:HDMI wires.jpg
HDMI wires.jpg
File:550 S. Winchester Blvd.jpg
550 S. Winchester Blvd.jpg
File:HDMI 1.4 with Audio Return Channel.png
HDMI 1.4 with Audio Return Channel.png
File:Acer Swift 3 rear-left edge.jpg
Acer Swift 3 rear-left edge.jpg

+ 2 more

More to explore

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.