ARC and eARC — Audio Return Channel
ARC and eARC carry audio from a display back to an audio device over the HDMI cable — eliminating a separate audio cable from the display to the DSP or amplifier.
Chroma Subsampling — 4:4:4, 4:2:2, and 4:2:0
Chroma subsampling reduces video bandwidth by transmitting less color (chroma) information than luminance — understanding 4:4:4 vs. 4:2:0 determines whether a signal chain can carry 4K60 over HDMI 2.0.
EDID — Extended Display Identification Data
EDID is the data structure a display presents to a source to advertise its supported resolutions, refresh rates, and audio formats — the root cause of most HDMI "no signal" and wrong-resolution failures.
HDBaseT — HDMI over Category Cable
HDBaseT transmits 4K HDMI, RS-232, IR, Ethernet, and PoE over a single Cat6A cable up to 100 m — the dominant long-distance HDMI extension standard in installed AV.
HDCP — High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection
HDCP is the content protection handshake required on every HDMI link carrying protected content — a single non-compliant device in the chain blocks the signal entirely.
HDR — High Dynamic Range
HDR extends the brightness and color range of video signals beyond standard dynamic range, enabling displays to show specular highlights and deep shadows simultaneously — relevant for 4K content delivery and display specification in AV.
LPCM — Linear Pulse Code Modulation and Audio Formats
LPCM is the uncompressed digital audio standard carried over HDMI and AES3 — understanding LPCM vs. compressed formats (Dolby Digital, DTS, Atmos) determines what a system can de-embed, process, and distribute.