Screen Shot

Also known as a screen capture, this is a digital image that is taken by a computer (Mac or PC) that records the elements that are visible on its monitor. Most often, the image is captured by the host computer’s operating system, although third-party software and shareware is available that can perform the same function. The main purposes of a screen shot would likely be to demonstrate a specific feature available within a particular program for marketing or tutorial purposes, or to illustrate a particular problem a user may be having with the computer (i.e., capturing an error message). Typically, screen shots are saved in common image formats such as JPEG, PNG, or BMP. These files are usually small enough to send as an attachment to an e-mail message.