The display resolution or display modes of a digital television, computer monitor, or other display device is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed. It can be an ambiguous term especially as the displayed resolution is controlled by different factors in cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, flat-panel displays and projection displays using fixed picture-element (pixel) arrays.
A 16:9-ratio television from October 2004
Difference between screen sizes in some common devices, such as a Nintendo DS Lite and two laptops shown here
A liquid-crystal display (LCD) is a flat-panel display or other electronically modulated optical device that uses the light-modulating properties of liquid crystals combined with polarizers. Liquid crystals do not emit light directly but instead use a backlight or reflector to produce images in color or monochrome.
An LCD screen used as a notification panel for travellers
LCD in a Texas Instruments calculator with top polarizer removed from device and placed on top, such that the top and bottom polarizers are perpendicular. As a result, the colors are inverted.
A Casio Alarm Chrono digital watch with LCD
Demonstration digital clock made in 1973 using then recently developed Cyanobiphenyl liquid crystals