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When setting up and managing a surveillance system, it's crucial to understand the commonly used professional terms and acronyms. This article compiles over 90 key terms related to optical technologies, image processing, resolution, cameras, software, hardware, network protocols, and more, categorizing and explaining them to help you easily apply them when selecting or operating a system.

Quick Guide

1. Optical Technology Terms
2. Image Processing Technology Terms
3. Resolution and Image Quality Terms
4. Video Encoding and Compression Technology Terms
5. Camera Terms
6. Surveillance Software Terms
7. Hardware Terms
8. Network Communication Protocols and Data Link Layer Terms
9. International Standards and Organizations
10. Other Terms

Optical Technology Terms 

• Aperture

The size of the lens opening that controls the amount of light entering. It is expressed in f-numbers (e.g., f/2.8, f/8). A smaller f-number (e.g., f/1.8) allows more light, ideal for low-light conditions, while a larger f-number (e.g., f/16) increases depth of field, making more of the scene in focus.

• Auto Iris (DC)

The aperture can automatically adjust according to environmental brightness to ensure proper exposure.

• Focal Length

A lens parameter that determines the field of view. A shorter focal length (e.g., 24mm) offers a wide-angle view, while a longer focal length (e.g., 200mm) is used for long-distance monitoring.

• AF

The camera automatically adjusts focus to obtain a clear image.

• Optical Zoom

Optical zoom changes the field of view by adjusting the focal length of the lens without affecting image quality, used in zoom surveillance cameras such as PTZ cameras.

• FOV, Field of View

The area a camera can capture, influenced by the lens's focal length. A short focal length lens provides a wider view, while a long focal length lens has a narrower field of view.

• IR, Infrared Radiation

Provides night vision in low-light or no-light environments. Used in night vision surveillance cameras.

• Depth of Field

Depth of field refers to the range of clarity from the foreground to the background. Shallow depth of field emphasizes the subject, while deep depth of field keeps more of the scene in focus.

• ISO Sensitivity

The sensitivity of the imaging sensor to light. The higher the ISO, the brighter the image in low light, but it may introduce noise.

• White Balance

Adjusts the color temperature of the image to ensure accurate color reproduction under different light sources, avoiding a blue or yellow tint.

• Exposure

Controls the image's brightness, affected by shutter speed, aperture size, and ISO, to ensure the image is neither overexposed nor underexposed.

• Filter

A transparent material placed in front of the lens to alter the characteristics of incoming light, such as filtering specific wavelengths of light or controlling light intensity.

Image Processing Technology Terms

• Dewarping

Corrects distortion from wide-angle lenses, like fisheye cameras, to present a standard perspective.

• WDR (Wide Dynamic Range)

Enhances image detail in scenes with both strong light and shadows. Common technologies include Digital WDR (DWDR) and True WDR.

• HDR (High Dynamic Range)

Increases image details in both bright and dark areas through multiple exposures, similar to WDR but with broader applications.

• DNR (Digital Noise Reduction)

Reduces noise in low-light environments, enhancing clarity. It includes 2D-DNR (single-frame noise reduction) and 3D-DNR (multi-frame noise reduction).

• BLC (Backlight Compensation)

Adjusts the scene to avoid darkening the subject in overexposed backlight situations.

• HLC (Highlight Compensation)

Suppresses or adjusts strong light sources (such as car headlights or searchlights) to prevent overexposure.

• Defog Technology

Enhances image clarity in foggy or smoky environments.

• ROI (Region of Interest)

Allows encoding a specific area of an image in high quality while encoding the rest with a lower bitrate to save bandwidth and storage.

• EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization)

Compensates for camera shake using software algorithms to reduce image blur.

• AWB (Auto White Balance)

Adjusts the image's color temperature based on the light source to keep colors looking natural.

• AE (Auto Exposure)

Automatically adjusts the shutter speed and aperture size based on environmental light to ensure proper exposure.

• AGC (Auto Gain Control)

Increases image brightness in low-light environments, though it may introduce noise.

• FPS (Frames Per Second)

The number of frames displayed per second, affecting smoothness. A higher FPS usually means smoother video.

• Multi-View

Displays multiple angles in a single frame by correcting and combining images from multiple cameras or a fisheye camera, enhancing monitoring coverage and image resolution. Examples include Quad View and Dual View.

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Resolution and Image Quality  Terms

• Resolution

Refers to the number of pixels in an image, determining the level of detail, such as 720p, 1080p, 4K, 8K.

• Pixel

The basic unit of an image, with higher pixel count providing richer image detail.

• MP (Megapixel)

Used to describe the resolution of a camera, such as 2MP (1920×1080), 5MP (2592×1944).

• Aspect Ratio

The width-to-height ratio of an image, such as 4:3, 16:9.

• GOP (Group of Pictures)

The frame structure in video compression, affecting image quality and compression efficiency.

• Bitmap

A type of raster image format made up of pixels, commonly used for storing and displaying digital images.      
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Video Encoding and Compression Technology Terms

• H.264, AVC (Advanced Video Coding)

A high-efficiency video compression technology, one of the most common video compression standards in surveillance cameras, video recording, and transmission systems.

• H.265, HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding)

The next generation of video compression technology, succeeding H.264, providing a 50% reduction in bitrate for the same video quality, ideal for 4K, 8K, and high-resolution video transmission.

• Bitrate

The data transmission rate after video compression, measured in kbps or Mbps, affecting image quality and storage size.

• JPEG 

A common image format used for compressing static images, effectively reducing file size.

• MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group)

An international organization that sets video and audio compression standards, including MPEG-2, MPEG-4.

• M-JPEG (Motion JPEG)

A video format that compresses each frame as a JPEG image.

• AVI (Audio Video Interleave)

A multimedia container format developed by Microsoft, although less commonly used today due to its lower compression efficiency.

• GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)

A lossless image format, commonly used for web images and simple animations.

• VCEG (Video Coding Experts Group)

An international organization responsible for video coding standards such as H.264 and HEVC.

• VBR (Variable Bitrate)

Adjusts the bitrate dynamically based on the complexity of the video content, allowing for more efficient use of bandwidth.

• CBR (Constant Bitrate)

Maintains a constant bitrate during transmission regardless of the video content, suitable for stable bandwidth situations.

• MBR (Maximum Bitrate)

Limits the maximum bitrate during video compression to prevent exceeding available bandwidth.

• GOP (Group of Pictures)

A set of encoded image data, including key frames (I-frames) and predicted frames (P-frames, B-frames), affecting compression efficiency and transmission delay.

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Camera Terms

• IP Camera

A camera connected to a network that transmits image data to an NVR or VMS for processing and storage.

More: PTZ vs. Dome vs. Bullet Cams

• PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom)

A common camera control method that allows users to pan, tilt, and zoom the lens, offering flexible monitoring angles.

• Analog Surveillance Camera

Traditional cameras that transmit video over coaxial cables.

• Fisheye Surveillance Camera

Cameras that provide a 180° or 360° panoramic view.

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Surveillance Software Terms

• VMS (Video Management System)

Software used for centralized management of video surveillance systems, providing recording, playback, monitoring, and configuration functions.

• AI VMS (Artificial Intelligence Video Management System)

A video management system integrated with AI technology for enhanced monitoring and automation, offering smarter surveillance capabilities.

 Argo AI VMS

• CMS (Central Management System)

Used to centrally manage multiple surveillance devices or VMS, suitable for large-scale surveillance systems.

• NVR (Network Video Recorder)

A device used to store video streams from IP cameras, providing management and playback functions.

• DVR (Digital Video Recorder)

Similar to NVR but typically used for analog camera recording, responsible for recording and storing video.

• PoE (Power over Ethernet)

PoE switches provide power to devices like cameras and wireless APs via Ethernet cables, eliminating the need for additional power adapters.

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Hardware Terms

• NAS (Network Attached Storage)

A storage device used in surveillance systems to store recorded video data, allowing remote access and backup functionality, improving data security and availability.

• HDD (Hard Disk Drive)

A physical storage drive used for storing surveillance recordings, with large capacity to handle long-term recording.

• Hub (Network Hub)

Used for connecting devices within a LAN, but has been largely replaced by switches due to data broadcasting inefficiencies and network collisions.

• Switch (Network Switch)

A smart networking device that efficiently manages LAN data, providing stable video transmission in surveillance systems.

• CCD (Charge-Coupled Device)

A type of image sensor widely used in cameras to convert light signals into digital signals.

• CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor)

Another common image sensor technology, offering lower power consumption and greater flexibility in certain applications compared to CCD.

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Network Communication Protocols and Data Link Layer Terms

• IP (Internet Protocol)

A standard protocol used for data transmission over a network, with each connected device having a unique IP address.

• ARP (Address Resolution Protocol)

Used to map an IP address to a MAC address, facilitating communication within a local area network (LAN).

• DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)

A network protocol that enables devices to automatically obtain an IP address, simplifying network setup.

• DNS (Domain Name System)

A system used to resolve domain names to IP addresses, allowing users to access websites via friendly domain names.

• HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)

A protocol for transferring web pages, specifying how resources (such as text, images, etc.) are retrieved from a web server.

• HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure)

An encrypted version of HTTP that ensures secure data transmission between users and websites.

• RTP (Real-Time Transport Protocol)

An internet protocol used for transmitting real-time data (e.g., audio or video). It is employed in media streaming and interactive services like internet telephony.

• RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol)

A protocol used for streaming video, supporting real-time transmission of video streams. It is widely used in surveillance cameras and management systems.

• TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)

The foundational protocols for network communication, ensuring reliable data transmission.

• MAC Address (Media Access Control Address)

A term used in network communication and the data link layer, it identifies devices within a network, particularly in local area networks (LAN). In surveillance systems, MAC addresses are used for device registration and binding to monitoring systems, such as IP cameras.

• LAN (Local Area Network)

A local network technology widely used in businesses, smart homes, and surveillance systems to connect devices like cameras, storage units, and control centers.

• WAN (Wide Area Network)

A long-distance network technology primarily used in surveillance and camera systems for connecting devices across regions or distant locations.

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International Standards and Organizations

• IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission)

An international organization responsible for setting electrical and electronic technology standards.

• ISO (International Organization for Standardization)

A global organization responsible for creating international standards across various fields.

• ITU (International Telecommunication Union)

An international organization that sets standards for global telecommunications and information communication technologies (ICT). ITU-T (Telecommunication Standardization Sector) focuses on telecommunications and network technology standards.

• NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act)

A U.S. law passed annually by Congress that regulates defense budgets and military policies.

• SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers)

An organization that sets technical standards for motion pictures, television, and imaging technologies, including image encoding and transmission.

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Others 

• IK (Impact Protection)

IK ratings measure a device’s resistance to mechanical impacts (such as collisions), typically used to evaluate the durability of surveillance camera enclosures. For example, IK10 indicates the ability to withstand a 20-joule impact, commonly used in public surveillance devices.

       ​​More: What is the IK10 protection rating?

• IP (Ingress Protection)

IP ratings (e.g., IP67, IP68) assess a device’s ability to protect against solid particles (e.g., dust) and liquids (e.g., water). For instance, IP67 means the device is completely dustproof and can be submerged in water for a short time without damage, often used in outdoor surveillance cameras.

      ​​More:  What is the IP rating for dust and water

• ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum)

An open standard ensuring interoperability between different brands of video surveillance equipment, commonly used for compatibility between IP cameras and NVRs.

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