What is monitor refresh rate?
Refresh rate describes how often a display updates its image, expressed in hertz (Hz). It helps describe motion, but it does not tell you how quickly every pixel changes or how many frames an application produces.
Three different parts of motion
At a fixed 60 Hz, a refresh period is about 16.7 ms; at 120 Hz it is about 8.3 ms. These are timing intervals, not measured pixel response times. A faster supported rate can provide more frequent display updates, while the content and rendering path still determine what is shown.
| Term | What it describes | What this site can show |
|---|---|---|
| Refresh rate (Hz) | Display image-update cadence | A browser cadence estimate; check OS settings for the configured rate |
| Frame rate (FPS) | Frames or callbacks produced per second by a specific application | Animation callback timing on this page, including delays |
| Pixel response time | A pixel's transition between shades | Visual edge artifacts, without a response-time value |
Reference: Microsoft: monitor refresh rate
Why a browser estimate can differ
A requestAnimationFrame callback often follows display refresh, but it is scheduled by the browser. Background tabs, workload, power saving, and timestamp precision can change callback delivery. A steady browser estimate therefore cannot certify the panel's configured rate or prove that each callback became a visible frame.
Reference: MDN: animation-frame scheduling
Variable rates and practical interpretation
With variable or dynamic refresh behavior, one number may not describe the entire session. Read the confidence and sample details instead of forcing an uncertain estimate into a familiar Hz class. Higher configured Hz also does not guarantee clearer moving edges: pixel transitions, display persistence, and eye tracking influence what you perceive.