---
title: "Define computer graphics"
subject: "Computer Graphics"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_5/computer_graphics:what-is-computer-graphics"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/computer_graphics/what-is-computer-graphics
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Define computer graphics

Computer Graphics · Chapter 1: Introduction and Application

- Asked in: 2078 Kartik, 2 marks; 2075 Chaitra, 2 marks; 2069 Asar, 1 marks (asked 3 times)
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/computer_graphics/what-is-computer-graphics
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/computer_graphics/chapter-1

## Question

What is computer graphics?

## Short answer

Computer graphics is the field of creating, storing, manipulating, and displaying pictures and images using computers. It involves hardware and software that generate visual output from data and models, and may be interactive or non-interactive.

## Answer

**Computer graphics** is the field of computer science that deals with creating, storing, manipulating and displaying pictures and images (drawings, charts, animations and real-world scenes) using a computer. It covers the hardware and software used to generate images from data and models.

Example: drawing a 3D model of a building, a game scene, a bar chart or a CAD diagram on the screen. It can be interactive (the user changes the picture with an input device such as a mouse) or non-interactive.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Computer graphics is best defined as
   A. Creating, storing, manipulating and displaying pictures using a computer
   B. Only designing computer hardware
   C. Only storing text files
   D. Only playing videos
   Answer: A. It deals with generating and displaying images from data and models. (Key point: Definition)

2. What makes computer graphics interactive?
   A. The picture never changes
   B. The user changes the picture with an input device such as a mouse
   C. It is printed on paper
   D. It uses only text commands
   Answer: B. Interactive graphics lets the user modify the picture through input devices. (Key point: Interactive graphics)

3. Which is covered by computer graphics?
   A. Only the keyboard layout
   B. Only networking protocols
   C. Hardware and software used to generate images from data and models
   D. Only database design
   Answer: C. The field covers both the hardware and software for image generation. (Key point: Scope)

## Related in Computer Graphics

- [Components of computer graphics](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcomputer_graphics%3Acomponents-computer-graphics) — Computer Graphics, chapter 1
- [Short note: Applications of computer graphics](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcomputer_graphics%3Ashort-note-applications-graphics) — Computer Graphics, chapter 1
- [Raster versus vector graphics](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcomputer_graphics%3Araster-vs-vector-graphics) — Computer Graphics, chapter 1, asked 4×
- [Why 3D graphics is more complex than 2D](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcomputer_graphics%3Awhy-3d-more-complex-viewing-pipeline) — Computer Graphics, chapter 4
- [Polygon as standard graphics object](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcomputer_graphics%3Apolygon-standard-graphics-object) — Computer Graphics, chapter 6
- [Define computer visualization](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcomputer_graphics%3Awhat-is-computer-visualization) — Computer Graphics, chapter 1