Component video is a video signal that has been split into two or more component channels. In popular use, it refers to a type of component
analog video (CAV) 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 that is used in
analog television. Like composite, component-video cables do not carry audio and are often paired with audio cables.