What does Display aspect ratio mean?
Display aspect ratio is the intended overall width-to-height shape of the visible picture. It is commonly written as 16:9,4:3 or a decimal ratio for wider film compositions.
Why it matters
It differs from pixel count and can be independent of the stored sample shape in older formats. Preserving the ratio may leave unused space when the source and screen have different shapes. Stretching fills space by changing proportions, while uniform zoom preserves proportions but can crop edges. The correct choice depends on whether the full composition or screen coverage is the priority.
A practical example
A wide film shown on a 16:9 television can have bars above and below while remaining correctly displayed. Removing the bars with zoom may hide people or action near the sides, so a filled screen is not proof of correct geometry.
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