What Is FPS? A Computer Vision Guide

Frame rate, or frames per second (FPS), is a crucial metric in video and computer vision applications, determining the smoothness and fluidity of visual content by measuring the number of frames displayed in one second. Higher FPS values, typically starting at 30 FPS, provide smoother and more realistic visuals, which are essential for applications such as gaming, high-speed photography, and virtual reality. In computer vision, FPS is critical for tasks like surveillance, sports analysis, and industrial inspection, where high frame rates enable better object tracking, faster processing, and improved accuracy. The choice of computer vision model can depend on the required FPS, with options like YOLO suited for high-speed detection and others like Faster R-CNN offering detailed analysis at lower FPS. High FPS systems, while providing benefits like real-time analysis and sharper images, also demand more resources and can strain hardware.