What is FPS?

FPS stands for Frames Per Second. An easier way to know what does FPS mean is by reducing the acronym to its base term; frame rate or frame frequency. All these terms basically mean the same thing, and that is the frequency at which any device produces consecutive images. These images are also known as frames. There are many different types of systems that use some sort of frame frequency. From video cameras to computer graphics, we as humans witness frames all the time in our daily lives.

To know the meaning of FPS, we should first examine the history behind the term itself. The whole concept of frames is due to the eye, and how your own brain interprets the images. People can process up to 12 different images per second, perceiving them as individuals. If however, you’re confronted with more than that number of images within a second, an illusion is created that provides the look of motion. This is how we see everything from television shows to graphics being displayed on your favorite video games.

Not only can FPS be associated with TV and movies, but it is also used in computing. What is FPS when it comes to computing you ask? Like the moving picture format, a frame in real-time computing is the time it takes to complete one entire round of system processing tasks. When you hear the frame rate of 50 hertz about a system, this is referring to the system re-evaluating all its core inputs, and then updating the output 50 times per second under any circumstance. Depending on the type of computing device, the frames per second will change. For example, an oil rig compared to a guided missile. Obviously the guided missile is going to require a higher frame rate than that of the oil rig because there are different application requirements at hand.

Another way to explain the meaning of FPS is by going into the video game realm. Frame rates in video games are talking about the speed at which the image is refreshed on the screen. The FPS of video games is a hotly debated topic. Finding the right FPS for video game makers is difficult because if it’s too low then the illusion of fluid motion affects the player’s ability to interact with the game.

If the FPS is too high, or changes frequently, then the game animation can begin to appear choppy. A common tactic in games nowadays is to lock a consistent frame rate at a lower FPS to ensure a smooth gaming experience. Of course, as TV’s increase their frame rates over time, video games will be right there to take advantage of the fact.

There are many different ways to answer questions about FPS. With the above information you should be able to provide them with various answers depending on the situation at hand. From the TV screen to computing software, the frame rate of different devices varies and changes accordingly. As technology grows, explaining FPS will only increase in difficulty. It’s an important aspect of many devices that has a significant impact on our everyday lives. Most people don’t go a day without experiencing some sort of FPS in front of their eyes.

To find out more information about FPS, visit the Flash Animation and Media FAQ page of Flying Cow Design