Digital signage is a form of electronic display that shows information, advertising and other messages. Digital signs (such as LCD, LED, plasma display, or projected images) can be found in public and private environments, such as retail stores and corporate buildings.

Advertising using digital signage is a form of out-of-home-advertising in which content and messages are displayed on digital signs with a common goal of delivering targeted messages to specific locations at specific times.

The benefits of digital signage over traditional static signs are that the content can be exchanged more easily, animations can be shown, and the signs can adapt to the context and audience, even interactively.

Some of the most common applications of digital signage:

1. Public information – news, weather and local (location specific) information, such as fire exits
2. Internal information - corporate messages, health & safety, news, etc.
3. Advertising – either related to the location the signage is in or just using the audience reach of the screens for general advertising
4. Brand building – in-store digital signage to promote the brand and build a brand identity
5. Influencing customer behavior – directing customers to different areas, increasing the dwell time on the store premises
6. Enhancing customer experience – applications include the reduction of perceived wait time in restaurant waiting areas, bank queues, etc., as well as recipe demonstrations in food stores
7. Enhancing the environment – with interactive screens (in the floor for example) or with dynamic way-finding