Difference Between Wallpaper and Screensaver

Wallpaper vs Screensaver

Wallpaper and screensaver are words used commonly in computer parlance. Even while surfing the net, you get across sites that promise free wallpapers and screensavers. These are graphics used on the monitor of a PC, laptop, notebook, and even mobile of today, to give it a personalized look. Ordinarily, all such devices are provided with pictures in limited numbers, to work as wallpaper or screensaver by the operating system. However, when people so desire; they can easily change the picture to make it a wallpaper or screensaver. There are differences between these two types of pictures, and this article attempts to highlight these differences based upon their features.

What is Wallpaper?

Whenever a PC or a laptop is started, the picture that shows up on the monitor when the OS starts functioning is called the wallpaper. The user has the liberty to use the picture or photograph of his choice so that he does not get bored while working on the system. It is like a cover of the system when it is in working position, and no file has been opened by you. Wallpaper is also called the desktop background though it is in the forefront, as it keeps on showing all the time on the computer when you are not working on the system. It is possible to download pictures of almost anything under the sun from the net and to make it your wallpaper. All icons of folders and word files can be seen above wallpapers. Wallpapers serve no specific function apart from soothing your eyes.

What is Screensaver?

You must have observed your computer monitor going dark after there has been no activity on your part for some time. Normally, there is a graphic that is animated and keeps changing its position on the monitor that is visible to you. This is called a screensaver, and if you have not set a screensaver, there is one by the OS set as default. If Microsoft XP is the OS being used by you, you will see an animated graphic displaying this name and jumping across the screen. However, it is possible to download screensavers from the net and set them to be visible when the system remains untouched for a period of time that to can be set by the user.

What is the difference between Wallpaper and Screensaver? • Wallpaper is static while screensaver is animated. • Wallpaper is background picture when you have not opened any file, while screensaver is the graphic that becomes visible when the computer has been left untouched for some time. • Wallpaper is a single image while screensaver contains lots of images. • Wallpapers take up very little power while screensavers are heavy and consume more power. • Wallpaper shows up all the time, while a screensaver shows only when the monitor has been left idle for some time.