webcam

Also known as web camera

alt=Small box with a lens inside|thumb|A Logitech-branded webcam attached to a laptop A webcam is a video camera which is designed to record or stream to a computer or computer network. They are primarily used in video telephony, live streaming and social media, and security. Webcams can be built-in computer hardware, like a laptop, or peripheral devices, and are commonly connected to a device using USB or wireless protocol.

AI overview

A webcam is a small video camera that connects to a computer or network to record or stream video. They're commonly used for video calls, live streaming, social media, and security purposes, and can be either built into devices like laptops or connected as separate peripherals through USB or wireless connections.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Wikidata facts

Image: MacBook iSight.jpg

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Commons category: Webcams
Stack Exchange tag: stackoverflow.com/tags/webcam
Commons gallery: Webcams
OpenStreetMap tag: surveillance=webcam

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~18 min read

Article

20 sections

Contents

History
Early development (early 1990s)
Entering the mainstream (late 1990s)
2000s–2019
2020–present
Technology
Image sensor
Optics
Internal software
Interface and external software
Uses
Videotelephony
Monitoring
Astrophotography
Laser beam profiling
Privacy concerns
See also
References
Further reading
External links

Webcams have been used on the Internet as early as 1993, and the first widespread commercial one became available in 1994. Early webcam usage on the Internet was primarily limited to stationary shots streamed to web sites. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, instant messaging clients added support for webcams, increasing their popularity in video conferencing. Computer manufacturers later started integrating webcams into laptop hardware. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a shortage of webcams due to the increased number of people working from home and children attending school remotely.