What is meant by color depth in an image?

Color depth refers to the number of bits that are used to represent the color of a single pixel in an image. This is crucial because it determines the range of colors that can be displayed. For instance, an 8-bit color depth allows for 256 different colors, whereas a 24-bit color depth enables over 16 million colors. Higher color depths result in more accurate and vibrant images, as they can represent subtle variations in color more effectively.

Understanding color depth is essential for various applications in imaging, multimedia, and design, as it plays a significant role in image quality and the overall experience for the viewer. It directly affects how realistic an image appears, as well as the file size and compression methods used for digital images.