Sprites have two main meanings depending on the context:
1. In Computer Graphics and Gaming
A sprite is a two-dimensional (2D) image or animation integrated into a larger scene, commonly used in video games to represent characters, objects, or effects
. Unlike static background images, sprites are often animated and can move independently within the game environment. They are usually stored in sprite sheets, which are single image files containing multiple frames or states of the sprite to efficiently manage animations
. Sprites can be manipulated by changing properties like position, rotation, scale, and color, allowing dynamic visual effects in games
. Historically, some gaming systems had hardware support for sprites, enabling smooth movement without redrawing the entire screen
2. In Atmospheric Science (Lightning Phenomenon)
Sprites, also called red sprites, are large-scale electrical discharges occurring high above thunderstorm clouds in the mesosphere at altitudes of about 50–90 km. They appear as luminous red-orange flashes with various shapes, often triggered by positive lightning strikes from thunderclouds to the ground
. Sprites are cold plasma phenomena distinct from typical lightning and can last longer, sometimes occurring in clusters. They were first photographed in 1989 and are studied as part of upper-atmospheric electrical activity
. In summary, "sprites" can refer to either:
- 2D graphical objects used in video games and computer graphics for animation and interaction , or
- Rare, high-altitude electrical discharges above thunderstorms visible as red flashes in the night sky.
The context usually clarifies which meaning applies.
