ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

HDCP repeater bit

Okay, kiddo! So imagine you have a special toy that you really like playing with. But you're worried that someone might try to take it away or copy it without asking. That's kind of what the HDCP repeater bit is like.

HDCP stands for High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection. It's a special way that electronic devices like computers and TVs keep video and audio signals safe when they're sent between each other. The HDCP repeater bit is a little piece of code that gets added to those signals to make them even safer.

Here's how it works. When you watch a movie or TV show on your computer or TV, the video and audio signals travel from your device to your screen or speakers. But they have to pass through other devices along the way, like cables, receivers, or Blu-ray players. Those devices might be able to copy or steal the signals if they're not protected.

But if the video and audio signals have the HDCP repeater bit attached, that means they can only be copied or shared if another device also has the HDCP repeater bit. It's like a secret handshake that the devices have to do before they can share the content. So if someone tries to copy or steal the signals, they won't be able to without that secret handshake.

It's kind of like having a special lock on your toy that only your friends know how to open. They can play with your toy, but they can't take it away without your permission. And that's how the HDCP repeater bit helps protect your movies and TV shows from being copied or shared without permission.