A Component Video Signal is basically a video signal that is split into two or more components in order to transmit the information. Component video offers better picture quality than composite video. Three cables are required for transmitting the information and three RCA or co-axial jack forms the interface of the component video which is one of the high-end video interfaces being offered in today's equipments. Audio data is not carried by the component video cables and so, additional audio cables are required.

Component video is capable of carrying the wide range of signals such as the 480i, 576i, 480p, 576p, 1080i, 1080p. Analog component video is used for the most of the consumer level applications whereas digital component video is still gaining popularity in both home-theatre and computer applications.

The three cables used in the analog interface are used to preserve the different elements of the video signal. The different RGB analog component video standards use a large bandwidth to carry the signal and these standards do not impose any sort of limit on the resolution or the color depth. The component video interface is either marked as Y Cr Cb or it is marked as Y Pr Pb. However, both are analog and they mean the same thing for consumer level equipments. Usually, additional synchronization signals are sent along the images and these signals can be embedded in the blanking period of one of the components or they can be transmitted on separate wires.

Component Video

DVDs use component video whereas laserdiscs, VHS tapes and regular television signals use composite video. A device with component video output connected to another device with component video input will provide better picture quality when compared to the devices using composite video connections.