Java

A highly portable, object-oriented programming language developed by Sun Microsystems. Not to be confused with JavaScript (below).

JavaScript

A programming language originally created by Netscape with specific features designed for use with the Internet and HTML, and syntax resembling that of Java and C++. Now standardized as ECMA-262.

JCIC

Joint Committee on Intersociety Coordination.

JEC

Joint Engineering Committee of EIA and NCTA.

jewel box

The plastic clamshell case that holds a CD or DVD.

jitter

Temporal variation in a signal from an ideal reference clock. There are many kinds of jitter, including sample jitter, channel jitter, and interface jitter.

JPEG

Joint Photographic Experts Group. The international committee which created its namesake standard for compressing still images.

JScript

A proprietary Microsoft variant of JavaScript (above).

 

land

The raised area of an optical disc.

laserdisc

A 12-inch (or 8-inch) optical disc that holds analog video (using an FM signal) and both analog and digital (PCM) audio. A precursor to DVD.

layer

The plane of a DVD disc on which information is recorded in a pattern of microscopic pits. Each substrate of a disc can contain one or two layers.

Layer 0

In a dual-layer disc, this is the layer closest to the optical pickup beam and surface of the disc, and the first to be read when scanning from the beginning of the disc's data. Dual-layer discs are 10% less dense than single layer discs due to crosstalk between the layers.

Layer 1

In a dual-layer disc, this is the deeper of the two layers, and the second one to be read when scanning from the beginning of the disc's data.

lead in

The physical area 1.2 mm or wider preceding the data area on a disc. The lead in contains sync sectors and control data including disc keys and other information.

lead out

On a single-layer disc or PTP dual-layer disc, the physical area 1.0 mm or wider toward the outside of the disc following the data area. On an OTP dual-layer disc, the physical area 1.2 mm or wider at the inside of the disc following the recorded data area (which is read from the outside toward the inside on the second layer).

legacy

A term used to describe a hybrid disc that can be played in both a DVD player and a CD player.

letterbox filter

Circuitry in a DVD player that reduces the vertical size of anamorphic widescreen video (combining every 4 lines into 3) and adds black mattes at the top and bottom. Also see filter.

letterbox

The process or form of video where black horizontal mattes are added to the top and bottom of the display area in order to create a frame in which to display video using an aspect ratio different than that of the display. The letterbox method preserves the entire video picture, as opposed to pan & scan. DVD-Video players can automatically letterbox a widescreen picture for display on a standard 4:3 TV.

level

In MPEG-2, levels specify parameters such as resolution, bit rate, and frame rate. Compare to profile.

line doubler

A video processor that doubles the number of lines in the scanning system in order to create a display with scan lines that are less visible. Some line doublers convert from interlaced to progressive scan.

linear PCM

A coded representation of digital data that is not compressed. Linear PCM spreads values evenly across the range from highest to lowest, as opposed to nonlinear (companded) PCM which allocates more values to more important frequency ranges.

lines of horizontal resolution

Sometimes abbreviated as TVL (TV lines) or LoHR. A common but subjective measurement of the visually resolvable horizontal detail of an analog video system, measured in half-cycles per picture height. Each cycle is a pair of vertical lines, one black and one white. The measurement is usually made by viewing a test pattern to determine where the black and white lines blur into gray. The resolution of VHS video is commonly gauged at 240 lines of horizontal resolution, broadcast video at 330, laserdisc at 425, and DVD at 500 to 540. Because the measurement is relative to picture height, the aspect ratio must be taken into account when determining the number of vertical units (roughly equivalent to pixels) that can be displayed across the width of the display. For example, an aspect ratio of 1.33 multiplied by 540 gives 720 pixels.

Lo/Ro

Left only/right only. Stereo signal (no matrixed surround information). Optional downmixing output in Dolby Digital decoders. Does not change phase, simply folds surround channels forward into Lf and Rf.

locale

See regional code.

logical unit

A physical or virtual peripheral device, such as a DVD-ROM drive.

logical

An artificial structure or organization of information created for convenience of access or reference, usually different from the physical structure or organization. For example, the application specifications of DVD (the way information is organized and stored) are logical formats.

lossless compression

Compression techniques that allow the original data to be recreated without loss. Contrast with lossy compression.

lossy compression

Compression techniques that achieve very high compression ratios by permanently removing data while preserving as much significant information as possible. Lossy compression includes perceptual coding techniques that attempt to limit the data loss to that which is least likely to be noticed by human perception.

LP

Long-playing record. An audio recording on a plastic platter turning at 331/3 rpm and read by a stylus.

LPCM  See linear PCM.

Lt/Rt

Left total/right total. Four surround channels matrixed into two channels. Mandatory downmixing output in Dolby Digital decoders.

luma (Y')

The brightness component of a color video image (also called the grayscale, monochrome, or black-and-white component). Nonlinear luminance. The standard luma signal is computed from nonlinear RGB as Y' = 0.299 R' + 0.587 G' + 0.114 B'.

luminance (Y)

Loosely, the sum of RGB tristimulus values corresponding to brightness. May refer to a linear signal or (incorrectly) a nonlinear signal.