Aspect ratio

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The viewable area of a display, for example, most common computer monitors and televisions have an aspect ratio of 4:3 or 1.33:1. However, this popular display of monitors is becoming replaced with widescreen displays using a 16:9 or 1.85:1 aspect ratio.

In the picture below, is an example of the 1.33:1 and 4:3 aspect ratios. The aspect ratio shown in the white area has less width than the 1.85:1 aspect ratio shown on the black edges. As you can also see, the Computer Hope.com logo displayed on a 1.33:1 aspect ratio cuts the edges off. However, the full logo shows if the display is capable of showing the 16:9 / 1.85:1 aspect ratio.

Also see: 16:9, 4:3, Anamorphic, Letterbox, Video terms, Widescreen