Bitmap

In computing, a bitmap (bit array, bitmap index) is a mapping from some domain (for example, a range of integers) to bits, that is, values which are zero or one.

In computer graphics, when the domain is a rectangle (indexed by two coordinates) a bitmap gives a way to store a binary image, that is, an image in which each pixel is either black or white (or any two colors).

The more general term pixmap refers to a map of pixels, where each one may store more than two colors, thus using more than one bit per pixel. Often bitmap is used for this as well. In some contexts, the term bitmap implies one bit per pixel, while pixmap is used for images with multiple bits per pixel.

A bitmap is a type of memory organization or image file format used to store digital images.

The term bitmap comes from the computer programming terminology, meaning just a map of bits, a spatially mapped array of bits.

Now, along with pixmap, it commonly refers to the similar concept of a spatially mapped array of pixels.

Raster images in general may be referred to as bitmaps or pixmaps, whether synthetic or photographic, in files or memory.

See also

• Raster graphics editor

External links

• Bitmap @ Wikipedia