View source for Sprite (computer graphics)

In [[computer graphics]], a '''sprite''' is a two-dimensional [[bitmap]] that is integrated into a larger scene.

== Description ==

Originally sprites referred to independent objects that are composited together, by hardware, with other elements such as a background.

This occurs as each scan line is prepared for the video output device, such as a CRT, without involvement of the main CPU and without the need for a full-screen frame buffer.

Sprites can be positioned or altered by setting attributes used during the hardware composition process. Examples of systems with hardware sprites include the Atari 8-bit family, Commodore 64, Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis, and many coin-operated arcade machines of the 1980s.

Use of the term "sprite" has expanded to refer to any two-dimensional bitmap used as part of a graphics display, even if drawn into a frame buffer (by either software or a GPU) instead of being composited on-the-fly at display time.

== CSS sprite ==

In [[web design]], a CSS sprite uses [[Cascading Style Sheets]] to display a rectangular area within a larger image.

== See also ==

* [[2.5D]]
* [[Computer graphics]]
* [[Sprite (CSS)]]
* [[Spriting]]
* [[Tilemap]]
* [[Texture mapping]]
* [[Video games with isometric graphics]]

== External links ==

* [ Sprite (computer graphics)] @ Wikipedia


[[Category:Computer graphics]]