Screen recording vs screen capture: what’s the difference?

The difference in one line

All screen recording is screen capture, but not all screen capture is screen recording. “Screen capture” covers both screenshots (a single frame) and recordings (moving video). “Screen recording” is the video kind. When someone says “screen capture,” context tells you whether they mean a screenshot or a video.

When to use a screenshot vs a recording

Use a screenshot when a single moment says it all: an error message, a final layout, a number on a dashboard. Use a screen recording when the sequence matters: how to do something, a bug that only appears mid-flow, a walkthrough with narration. If you find yourself annotating a screenshot with lots of arrows and text, that’s usually a sign a short recording would be clearer.

How to do each

Most screen recorders do both: a one-click screenshot and a full video recording. With Opivv you capture either from the same toolbar button, then share a link, so the person on the other end sees exactly what you saw.

How to record your screen