What VSync is
VSync, short for vertical synchronization, is a graphics option that synchronizes the rate at which a graphics card produces frames with the refresh rate of the display. Its main purpose is to prevent a visual problem called screen tearing. By coordinating when new frames are sent with when the display is ready to show them, VSync aims to keep the image on screen clean and consistent.
The tearing problem
Screen tearing happens when the display shows parts of multiple frames at once, producing a visible split or misalignment in the image. This occurs when the graphics card sends new frames out of step with the display's refresh cycle, so the screen updates partway through drawing a frame. Tearing can be distracting, especially during motion, and VSync was created specifically to address it.
How VSync helps
VSync prevents tearing by holding back new frames until the display is ready to show a complete one, aligning frame delivery with the display's refresh cycle. Instead of updating the screen in the middle of a refresh, the system waits for the right moment, so each refresh shows a single, whole frame. This keeps the image coherent and removes the torn appearance that comes from mismatched timing.
The trade-offs
While VSync fixes tearing, it can introduce trade-offs. Because the graphics card sometimes has to wait for the display before showing a frame, VSync can add a degree of delay, and if the system cannot keep up with the refresh rate, it can affect smoothness. This means VSync is not always a pure improvement: it trades one problem, tearing, for the possibility of added latency or reduced frame rates in some cases.
VSync and its alternatives
Because of these trade-offs, various approaches to synchronization exist beyond basic VSync, aiming to prevent tearing while reducing the downsides. The general goal across these methods is the same: present clean frames without the torn image that comes from mismatched timing, while keeping the experience responsive. Which approach is best can depend on the hardware and the preferences of the user.
Why it matters
VSync is a common graphics setting that addresses a specific and visible problem, screen tearing, by synchronizing frames with the display. Understanding what VSync is - vertical synchronization between frame output and refresh rate - clarifies why the option exists and why it involves trade-offs. For anyone who games or tunes graphics settings, VSync is a useful concept to understand.
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See also: What is FPS in gaming? Frame rate explained, What is input lag? Explained simply.
Sources
Published date reflects the original event date (2023-04-11). This article is original Skillo editorial written from the sources above; facts were verified in September 2026.
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