dpi.

Dots per inch. A linear measurement of pixel density in computer imaging.

Sometimes also ppi, for “pixels per inch” or “points per inch.” Oddly there’s no commonly used metric equivalent. Even in Europe people talk about dpi.

Computer monitors, for example, are often rated at being, say, 72 dpi or 96 dpi. This means that each linear inch of screen area contains 72 independent picture elements - pixels. If only one value is supplied then it is implied that the horizontal and vertical values are the same, though this is by no means always the case. Computer printers often have resolutions of 300 to 600 dpi.

cf. megapixel, pixel, pixel density.

Entry last updated 2002-04-04. Term 379 of 1487.

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