What is screen capture? Definition and types
Screen capture is the act of recording what is on a display as a still image or sequence of images, for later reference or to share with someone who was not present.
Screen capture is the act of recording what is on a display as a still image or a sequence of images, so it can be referenced later or shared with someone who was not present.
The mechanic underneath is one of two paths. The operating system can grab the framebuffer of the display directly (the path used by macOS Cmd+Shift+4 and the Windows Snipping Tool). Modern browsers can also request capture through the getDisplayMedia Web API, which prompts the user to pick a tab, window, or full screen — that path is what makes no-install browser capture tools possible.
Captures, crops, and recordings
A raw capture is whatever the source produced — usually a PNG of the full viewport or screen. From there, most workflows crop the capture down to the region that matters, and some annotate the crop with arrows or callouts. A screen recording produces a video stream instead of a single image, useful when the bug or behavior unfolds over time.
The format choice matters for downstream use. A still capture is the right input for a bug ticket, a design review note, or a markdown document an AI agent will read. A recording is right for capturing a multi-step interaction or a timing-dependent defect.
Frequently asked questions
Is screen capture the same as screen recording?
Screen capture is the broader term and covers both stills and video. Screen recording refers specifically to video output.
Do I need a screen capture app?
No. Operating systems and modern browsers can both capture the screen natively. A dedicated app adds cropping, annotation, dictation, or sharing on top of that primitive.
Capture your first review.
About a minute from open tab to a shareable URL your agent can ingest.
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