# flexible display > electronic visual display which is flexible in nature **Wikidata**: [Q5458978](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5458978) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flexible_display) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/flexible-display ## Summary A flexible display is an electronic visual display that can bend, fold, or conform to curved surfaces unlike traditional rigid displays. This technology enables new form factors for devices such as foldable smartphones and rollable televisions while maintaining visual functionality. ## Key Facts - Flexible displays are a subclass of electronic visual displays, which are electrically controlled displays with no moving parts. - These displays have the characteristic of compliance, allowing them to bend and flex without damage. - The concept has a sitelink count of 12 across different language versions of Wikipedia. - Flexible displays are also known by aliases such as 折疊屏, 可折叠柔性屏, and 可折叠柔性屏手机 in Chinese. - The technology has a Freebase ID of /m/0hhv32w. - It is discussed on Zhihu with topic ID 20743368 since at least February 28, 2019. - The Wikimedia Commons category for flexible displays contains relevant images and media. - Flexible displays are documented in at least 10 different Wikipedia languages including Arabic, Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean. ## FAQs ### Q: How are flexible displays different from traditional displays? A: Flexible displays can bend, fold, or conform to curved surfaces, unlike traditional rigid displays that use glass substrates and maintain fixed rectangular shapes. This physical flexibility enables entirely new device form factors that weren't previously possible. ### Q: What devices use flexible display technology? A: Flexible displays are primarily used in foldable smartphones, rollable televisions, and various wearable electronics that require curved or conformable form factors. The technology allows devices to transform between different configurations while maintaining functionality. ### Q: How long has flexible display technology been around? A: The concept of flexible displays has been documented in knowledge systems for some time, with mentions appearing across multiple language Wikipedias and platforms like Zhihu since at least February 2019, though the underlying technology has been in development for longer. ## Why It Matters Flexible display technology represents a paradigm shift in electronic device design, enabling entirely new categories of products that weren't possible with rigid displays. By allowing devices to fold, roll, or bend, this technology solves the longstanding challenge of screen size limitations in portable electronics. Users can now enjoy larger screen real estate in pocket-sized devices that transform when needed. Beyond smartphones and tablets, flexible displays are enabling innovations in wearable technology, automotive dashboards, and medical devices. The technology is also driving innovation in materials science with specialized substrates and manufacturing processes that allow electronics to bend repeatedly while maintaining functionality, creating more human-centric interfaces that conform to our natural movements rather than forcing us to adapt to fixed rectangular screens. ## Notable For - Being a subclass of electronic visual displays that specifically emphasizes physical flexibility and compliance as a characteristic - Enabling completely new device form factors like foldable smartphones and rollable televisions that were previously impossible with rigid displays - Having multilingual presence across at least 10 Wikipedia languages including Arabic, Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean - Driving innovation in materials science with specialized substrates and manufacturing processes that allow electronics to bend repeatedly - Supporting an ecosystem of devices with the ability to dynamically change shape while maintaining functionality, a feature unique in display technology ## Body ### Definition and Characteristics Flexible displays are electronic visual displays characterized by their ability to bend, fold, or conform to curved surfaces. Unlike traditional rigid displays that use glass substrates, flexible displays utilize plastic or other flexible materials. These displays maintain functionality while being subjected to physical deformation, with some capable of being rolled, folded, or bent multiple times without failure. The key characteristic of compliance allows these displays to adapt to various form factors while still serving their primary purpose of visual information display. ### Technical Classification As a subclass of electronic visual displays, flexible displays inherit the basic properties of electrically controlled displays with no moving parts. They are classified separately from traditional displays due to their physical flexibility characteristic. In the technology taxonomy, they occupy a unique position between standard displays and emerging display technologies, representing both an evolution and a distinct category. The Freebase ID /m/0hhv32w serves as a unique identifier for this technology entity in knowledge graphs. ### Commercial Applications The primary commercial application of flexible display technology is in foldable smartphones, exemplified by devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip series. These devices can transform between different screen sizes, typically opening from a compact smartphone form into a tablet-like display. Other applications include rollable televisions, curved displays for automotive dashboards, and wearable electronics. The technology is particularly valuable in devices where screen size limitations are a constraint but portability remains important. ### Knowledge Representation Flexible displays are represented across multiple knowledge platforms with a sitelink count of 12 across different language Wikipedias. The Zhihu platform hosts discussions and content about flexible displays with a dedicated topic ID (20743368) since at least February 28, 2019. The Wikimedia Commons category "Flexible displays" provides visual documentation of the technology through images and media. The multilingual presence (in languages including Arabic, Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, and others) indicates the global interest and relevance of this technology across different regions and markets. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.zhihu.com/search?q=%E6%8A%98%E5%8F%A0%E5%B1%8F&type=topic) 2. [Source](https://www.zhihu.com/search?q=%E6%8A%98%E5%8F%A0%E5%B1%8F&type=content) 3. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)