What is a Webcam?

If you’re new to the world of online videos and want one of the best webcams, it all starts with knowing what is a webcam in the first place. Today, we’ll go over the answer to that question and talk about the two major types of webcams you’ll run into.

What is a Webcam Used For?

A webcam is a video-based input device that allows you to record and display yourself during online chats on video chat programs by sending information to your computer. Various webcam models have different levels of video quality, and there are a few different types out there. Either way, each webcam has a maximum resolution that dictates video quality, and most models have a built-in microphone.

Types of Webcams

There are a ton of different webcams available. This leads to many questions, such as what a simulated webcam is or what webcam frame rates are. The more knowledge you arm yourself with, the better because this allows you to use your webcam device more effectively. There are also a lot of uses for webcams. For example, knowing how to use a webcam as a security camera opens doors to better home security. Below, we’ll talk about the two main “types” of webcams.

Standalone Webcam

This type of webcam comes in all varieties of shapes and sizes. However, whether you get an expensive or cheap webcam, they all tend to work basically the same. You’ll connect the webcam device to your computer using a USB cable or similar connection type. They allow anybody to make video calls on a computer. For more information, try comparing a laptop webcam vs. an external webcam.

Built-In Webcam

Also known as an internal webcam, these models are built into your device. They are most commonly found on laptops. If you run into trouble with yours, you might want to learn what to do if your built-in webcam is not working. This is incredibly important for troubleshooting, especially if you’re wondering why your webcam keeps flickering.