A webcam is a small camera peripheral that captures video and still images for a computer, used for video calls, streaming, and recording.1
Overview
A webcam pairs an image sensor and a lens with a small processor that encodes the picture into a video stream the computer can read. It is an input device: the operating system sees it as a camera source that applications tap into.
The specs that matter are resolution (1080p and 4K are common), frame rate (frames per second), and field of view (how wide a scene it captures). Webcams connect over USB or come built into a laptop bezel or a monitor.
Key specs
A handful of numbers describe most of what a webcam can do:
| Spec | What it sets | Common values |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Image detail | 720p, 1080p, 4K |
| Frame rate | Motion smoothness | 30 or 60 fps |
| Field of view | How wide it sees | 65°–90°+ |
| Connection | How it attaches | USB, or built-in |
Where it fits
The webcam became a fixture of remote work and online classes, and a step up from a built-in camera noticeably improves call quality. Beyond conferencing, the same hardware feeds streaming, security monitoring, and computer-vision projects. As a plain USB video source it slots neatly into homebrew automation — much as a software-defined radio is a USB input feeding a stream into the computer, a webcam feeds a frame stream that software can capture and process.