HDMI is not designed around a particular digital standard. HDMI is the latest digital HDTV interconnection standard. This is an uncompressed digital connection scheme that was actually originally developed for a network of personal computers. HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface.

However HDMI also provides the ability to carry audio signals, in addition to video, as well as incorporating HDCP, which is a Digital Rights Management technology. You can purchase cables that have lengths of 25, 30, 50, 75, 100, and 150 feet. This is the newest interface for home theater systems and High Definition television. HDMI cables come in when you want to hook up a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) system with that of a DVI. HDMI cables are digital video cables that usually don't pass audio. HDMI is High Definition Multimedia Interface. HDMI also offers this connection method of combining both digital audio and video.

By combining all this power into one cable, HDMI offers a convenient connection alternative to the maze of existing analog A/V cables that plague your home theater. HDMI cables have the added benefit of carrying video and audio signals with a single cable. HDMI is superior because the need to complete digital to analog conversion and re-conversions is eliminated. The most obvious is the higher data transfer speed that it offers. HDMI incorporates content protection called High Definition Content Protection (HDCP). The uncompressed format delivers digital HD video, multi-channel audio, and control signals between various HDMI and/or DVI components. For a sharp, clear picture accurate transmission of data bits is essential, requiring a high quality HDMI cable. The following is taken from the HDMI web page "HDMI is fully backward compatible with PCs, displays and consumer electronics devices incorporating the Digital Visual Interface (DVI) standard.