S-video (short for Separate Video, despite the misconception that it can mean Super Video) is an analog video connection standard that sends electrical signals over wires to display the original video. If you have an older analog TV or DVD player, you may still want an S-video cable.

S-video technology transmits standard definition video at a resolution of 480 pixels or 576 pixels. S-video cables have a variety of uses, including connecting computers, TVs, DVD players, video cameras, and VCRs.

S-video is an improvement over composite video, which carries all of the video data (including brightness and color information) in a single signal over a single wire. S-video carries brightness and color information as two separate signals over two wires. Because of this separation, video carried by S-video is of higher quality than composite video.

S-video ports are round with multiple holes and a somewhat flat bottom. The ports can have four, seven, or nine pins. Like composite video (the yellow wire in a three-plug setup), the S-video cable carries only the video signal, so composite audio cables (the red and white wires) are still required.