Question 1

How does the webcam FPS test work?

Accepted Answer

The test accesses your webcam using the getUserMedia API and draws frames to a hidden canvas. To detect new frames, it samples a small 8x8 pixel region and compares it to the previous sample. When a difference is detected above a threshold, a new frame is counted. FPS is calculated from the count of new frames over the elapsed time. This method works with any webcam without requiring the requestVideoFrameCallback API.

Question 2

What frame rate should my webcam produce?

Accepted Answer

Most consumer webcams are rated at 30 FPS, which is the standard for video conferencing and streaming. Some gaming webcams and high-end webcams support 60 FPS, which provides smoother motion for streaming and gaming. 720p cameras generally achieve their maximum frame rate more easily than 1080p cameras due to lower data bandwidth requirements. At lower light levels, many webcams automatically reduce frame rate to increase exposure time.

Question 3

Why is my webcam showing a lower FPS than advertised?

Accepted Answer

Advertised FPS is the maximum under ideal conditions. Actual FPS may be lower due to: insufficient USB bandwidth (especially on USB 2.0 hubs), low light causing the camera to increase exposure time, CPU-intensive background processes limiting browser rendering, the camera switching to a lower quality mode to maintain connectivity, or privacy software intercepting the video stream. Try connecting the webcam directly to a USB 3.0 port on the motherboard for best results.

Question 4

Does the browser limit webcam FPS?

Accepted Answer

By default, getUserMedia does not cap webcam FPS, but you can request specific values using the frameRate constraint. The browser may negotiate with the camera driver to find a supported frame rate. Some browsers and operating systems apply processing (face detection, background blur) that can reduce effective FPS. Virtual camera software (OBS virtual cam, Snap Camera) may also cap output to 30 FPS regardless of the underlying camera capability.

Question 5

Is my webcam data uploaded anywhere?

Accepted Answer

No. The webcam feed is processed entirely within your browser. The video stream is drawn to a local canvas element and frame rate is calculated locally. No video data is transmitted to any server. The test only captures small pixel samples (8x8 pixels) for frame detection — no full-resolution frames are stored or transmitted. You can verify this using your browser's developer tools network tab, which will show no outgoing network requests during the test.

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