Progressive scan
Progressive scan is a video display method that draws every line of each frame in order, from top to bottom, in a single pass. It produces cleaner motion than interlaced video, which splits each frame into two halves. The p in 1080p and 720p stands for progressive, and phones, computers and modern TVs all display video this way.
Why it matters
Progressive scan is what modern devices, web players and streaming services expect. Delivering anything else risks visible flaws on phones and computers. For teams bringing in broadcast or archive footage, converting to progressive is a required step before the video is ready for streaming.
How it works
- Each frame is captured as one complete image.
- The display draws every line of that image, top to bottom, in one pass.
- The next frame follows, so each moment is shown in full.
What does the p in 1080p mean?
The p in 1080p stands for progressive scan. It means every one of the 1,080 lines is drawn in each frame. The i in 1080i stands for interlaced, where odd and even lines are drawn in alternate passes. Online video, phones and computers use the progressive form.
Is progressive scan better than interlaced?
Yes, for modern screens, progressive scan gives a cleaner picture. Motion looks smoother, with no comb lines on moving edges. Phones, computers and modern TVs are built for progressive video, and online platforms expect it. Interlaced footage must be deinterlaced before it is streamed.
Where it's used
Nearly all phones, computers and web players expect progressive video, so video platforms, OTT services and creator apps convert older broadcast footage to progressive before streaming it.
By the numbers
- ITU-R BT.2020, the UHDTV standard for 4K and 8K, allows only progressive frame rates. (Rec. 2020 (Wikipedia))
- YouTube's recommended H.264 settings specify progressive scan and ask for interlaced content to be deinterlaced. (YouTube recommended upload encoding settings)
