Round RGB TTL TFT Display - 2.1" 480x480 - Capacitive Touch

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

ESP32

ESP32 is a family of low-cost microcontroller chips and modules from Espressif with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth. They support programmable firmware and over-the-air updates, and are commonly programmed with toolchains such as the Arduino core and ESP-IDF.

IPS

IPS is a type of LCD panel that keeps colours and contrast more consistent when viewed from an angle. This matters for small displays that may be mounted in a dashboard, handheld project, or enclosure where the viewer is not always looking straight on.

microcontroller

A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip that runs a stored program and controls connected inputs and outputs such as buttons, sensors, displays and communication interfaces. In a device built around one, it is the part that executes the code and coordinates the device's behaviour.

octal PSRAM

Octal PSRAM is external pseudo-static RAM that uses an eight-line data interface for higher bandwidth than simpler single- or quad-line connections. It provides extra working memory for tasks that exceed a microcontroller's built-in RAM, such as large frame buffers, camera or image data, audio, or sizeable data sets.

PCB

A printed circuit board (PCB) is a board, usually rigid, with etched copper tracks that connect electronic components together without loose wiring. Components are mounted on the board and signals route between them through the copper layout.

RGB

Short for red, green and blue, the three primary colours of light that are mixed in varying amounts to make a wide range of colours. In electronics RGB can refer to an LED or pixel that blends these three colours, or to a colour signal or interface that carries separate red, green and blue channels.

SPI

A fast serial communication bus often used for displays, memory cards, and sensors. It matters because SPI devices need specific pins for clock and data, plus a separate chip-select line for each device.

TFT

A thin-film transistor display is a common type of colour LCD used for graphics screens. Knowing a product is for TFTs helps you check that the driver board matches the display’s connector, resolution, backlight, and signalling method.

TFT screen

A TFT (thin-film transistor) screen is a type of colour LCD that uses a transistor at each pixel for sharper images, faster refresh and better contrast than basic character or passive LCDs. It can show colour graphics, menus or live data, but usually needs more processing power and a suitable display driver than a simple display.