component analog video

video signal that has been split into two or more components. In popular use, it refers to a type of analog video information that is transmitted or stored as three separate signals. Component video can be contrasted with composite video (NTSC, PAL or SECAM) in which all the video information is combined into a single line-level signal. Like composite, component-video cables do not carry audio and are often paired with audio cables.

component analog video is a format of video signal that takes the advancement from composite (1-signal) to S-Video (2-signals) one step further. It has separated luma (brightness) and chroma (color), but the chroma is also separated into two signals, red and blue. The result is a triple-headed RCA cable and an image cleaner than composite with less color bleeding that S-Video. Although common on newer DVD players, high-end HDTV's, and relatively modern CRT televisions, component video is very rare on older TV sets and VCR's.

component video systems, additional synchronization signals may need to be sent along with the images. The synchronization signals are commonly transmitted on one or two separate wires, or embedded in the blanking period of one or all of the components. In computing, the common standard is for two extra wires to carry the horizontal and vertical components ('separate syncs'), whereas in video applications it is more usual to embed the sync signal in the Y component ('sync on luminance').

Examples of international component video standards are:
RS-170 RGB (525 lines, based on NTSC timings, now EIA/TIA-343)
RS-343 RGB (525, 625 or 875 lines)
STANAG 3350 Analogue Video Standard (NATO military version of RS-343 RGB)