pixel

Everyday

1. A pixel is one of the tiny coloured dots or squares that make up a picture on a screen or a digital photo. tree →
2. Pixels are also a way of measuring screen or picture size: 1,920 pixels wide. tree →

In the lessons

In computing lessons, pupils learn that every screen image is a grid of pixels, each with a colour made from red, green and blue light; more pixels means a sharper picture (higher resolution). Pixel art draws pictures on squared paper or in a computer grid. In maths, a picture 10 pixels wide and 10 high has 100 pixels (area). Phrases: «pixel art», «megapixel», «pixelated», «screen resolution».

Examples

• Zoom in on the photo and you can see each pixel. tree →
• We made pixel art of a cat on squared paper. tree →
• My camera takes 12-megapixel photos. tree →
• The image went blocky and pixelated when I stretched it. tree →
• Each pixel can show millions of colours. tree →
• A picture 8 pixels by 8 pixels has 64 pixels in total. tree →

Note

Plural: «pixels». «Megapixel» = one million pixels. «Pixelated» (blurry, blocky). Maths: number of pixels = width × height. Short for "picture element".