Flat panel displays encompass a growing number of technologies enabling video displays that are lighter and much thinner than traditional television and video displays using cathode ray tubes, usually less than 10 cm (4 inches) thick. These include:

Flat panel displays requiring continuous refresh:

• Plasma displays
• Liquid crystal displays (LCDs)
• field emission displays (FEDs)
• Organic light-emitting diode displays (OLEDs)
• Digital light processing (DLPs)
• Liquid crystal on silicon (LCOSs)

Bistable flat panel displays (or electronic paper):

• e-ink displays
• Gyricon displays
• Iridigm displays
• magink displays

Only the first two are currently viable commercial display technologies. OLED displays are beginning deployment in small sizes. Bistable displays are beginning deployment in niche markets (magink displays in outdoor advertising, e-ink and Gyricon displays in in-store advertising).

Flat panel displays balance their smaller footprint and trendy modern look with high costs and in many cases inferior images compared with traditional CRTs. In many applications, specifically modern portable devices such as laptops, cellular phones, and digital cameras, whatever disadvantages are overcome by the portability requirements.