Component video is considered a “better” video transmission technology than S-video and composite, although not up to the quality of digital formats like DVI and HDMI. It has the ability to separate and synchronize the color and luminance (brightness) levels of a video signal. Thus, the video output transmitted through this technology features considerably better image quality and much less signal loss compared to the two mentioned connectors.
Among the main types of video resolutions that can be propagated along a component video connector are 480i, 576i, 1080i, 480p, 576p, and 1080p. The ‘i’ refers to interlaced scanning while the ‘p’ stands for progressive scanning. Interlaced scanning is a video standard where all the odd-numbered horizontal lines of a video signal are scanned first, followed by the even-numbered horizontal lines, and then loop goes on. This standard was eventually replaced by progressive scanning as the more preferable one for higher level of video system interfaces. Unlike interlaced scanning, progressive scanning is not prone to choppy images since it does not feature non-sequential horizontal line display.
With YPbPr component video, the Green connector is dedicated to sending the luminance or luma (Y) signal along with the color synchronization data. Meanwhile, the blue connector is the carrier of the Pb signal that carries the difference between the blue and luma signals (B-Y signal). The red connector (Pr), on the other hand, is the one that carries the difference between the red and luma signals (R-Y signal). There really is no need to send green because the Red, Blue and brightness are capable of creating that hue.