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Progressive scan is a computer and video display technology that draws every line of a video frame in sequential order from top to bottom. This process creates one complete, full-resolution image at a time, resulting in a clearer, sharper, and more stable picture than older display methods.

Progressive vs. interlaced scanning. The concept of progressive scanning is best understood in contrast to its predecessor, interlaced scanning, which was used in analog broadcasts and older TVs.

Why progressive scan is the modern standard. Progressive scanning offers several key advantages that make it the current standard for digital video and computer displays:

Superior image clarity and motion: By drawing the full picture in a single pass, progressive scan avoids the flicker and motion artifacts that plague interlaced video. This is essential for high-quality, high-definition content like movies, sports, and video games.

Better compatibility with digital displays: Modern displays such as LCD, LED, and OLED panels are inherently progressive and cannot display interlaced video natively. To display an interlaced signal, these screens must first convert it to a progressive signal, a process called deinterlacing, which can add visual artifacts or lag.

Optimal for scaling: Progressive-scan video can be more easily scaled to higher resolutions, resulting in a cleaner and clearer image when upconverting to a larger or higher-resolution display.