What is screen resolution a measure of?

Screen resolution specifically refers to the number of pixels that can be displayed on a screen, which is crucial for determining the clarity and detail of the image shown. It is typically represented by the dimensions of the display in pixels, such as 1920x1080, which indicates 1920 pixels horizontally and 1080 pixels vertically. Higher screen resolutions mean that more pixels are used to create the picture, leading to sharper images and more detailed graphics.

In contrast to screen resolution, the size of the display unit refers to the physical dimensions of the screen itself, usually measured diagonally in inches. The refresh rate concerns how many times per second the display updates the image, which influences the smoothness of motion on the screen. The contrast ratio is a measure of the difference in brightness between the brightest white and the darkest black the display can produce, affecting the dynamic range of the visuals. Each of these aspects is important for different characteristics of the display, but they do not define screen resolution itself.