Editing Charge-coupled device (section)

== Overview ==
In a CCD [[image sensor]], [[pixel]]s are represented by [[Doping (semiconductor)|p-doped]] [[metal–oxide–semiconductor]] (MOS) [[capacitors]]. These [[MOS capacitor]]s, the basic building blocks of a CCD,<ref name="Sze"/> are biased above the threshold for inversion when image acquisition begins, allowing the conversion of incoming [[photon]]s into electron charges at the semiconductor-oxide interface; the CCD is then used to read out these charges.

Although CCDs are not the only technology to allow for light detection, CCD image sensors are widely used in professional, medical, and scientific applications where high-quality image data are required.

In applications with less exacting quality demands, such as consumer and professional [[digital camera]]s, [[active pixel sensor]]s, also known as [[CMOS sensor]]s (complementary MOS sensors), are generally used.

However, the large quality advantage CCDs enjoyed early on has narrowed over time and since the late 2010s CMOS sensors are the dominant technology, having largely if not completely replaced CCD image sensors.