The term "active-matrix" refers to the active nature of the capacitors in the display. Unlike a passive-matrix display, which must charge full rows of wires to alter individual pixels, an active-matrix display can control each pixel directly. This results in a significantly faster response time, meaning the pixels can change state much more rapidly. In practical terms, an active-matrix monitor can display motion and fast-moving images more clearly than a passive-matrix display can. The fast switching of TFTs also prevents the "ghosting" of the cursor that is common on passive-matrix screens.
Since active-matrix technology provides individual control of each pixel, active-matrix screens typically exhibit more even brightness and color across the screen than passive-matrix displays. Because of the multiple advantages of active-matrix technology, most modern computer monitors, laptop screens, and LCD televisions use active-matrix screens.