Homonym: aliasing (Name)
Aliasing is a phenomenon that occurs when a signal is sampled at a rate that is insufficient to capture its changes accurately. This can lead to misrepresentation of the original signal, causing different signals to become indistinguishable when sampled. For example, if a sound wave is sampled too slowly, it may appear as a different frequency, creating confusion in audio processing.
In digital imaging, aliasing can manifest as jagged edges or moiré patterns in images. This happens when the resolution of the image sensor is not high enough to accurately represent the details of the scene. Techniques like anti-aliasing are used to reduce these effects, improving the quality of both audio and visual media.