HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface)

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HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface)

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Definition

High Definition Multimedia Interface (abbreviated HDMI) is an interface for digital image and sound transmission in consumer electronics developed since mid-2002. It unifies existing processes, can produce higher quality and also has a coherent copy protection concept (DRM).

HDMI allows, for example, a DVD player, a Blu-ray Disc player or a game console to be connected directly to a TV, with both picture and sound being transmitted digitally via only one cable. Especially in home cinema systems (e.g. for Dolby Digital surround sound from DVD), HDMI simplifies and standardises the cabling of the central AV receiver with different audio and video feed devices as well as with the display devices such as Smart TV or video projector. With earlier types of connection, quite different types of cables and connectors were usually available or required depending on the feed device or display device, with picture and sound information often being routed via separate cables.

The current HDMI version is 2.1, which was introduced to the public in 2017. Products for HDMI 2.1 are available, but these are hardly visible to end consumers at present. According to the licensing regulations for HDMI products, they may no longer be labelled with version numbers since 1 January 2012.

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References

1. Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI

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