Watermarks
Watermarks are digital or physical marks embedded into content (such as images, videos, documents, or audio) to identify ownership, track usage, or prevent unauthorized copying. They are typically semi-transparent overlays, metadata tags, or subtle alterations that do not significantly degrade the original content. In computing, watermarks are used for copyright protection, authentication, and data integrity verification.
Developers should learn about watermarks when building applications that handle media distribution, digital rights management (DRM), or content security, such as stock photo platforms, video streaming services, or document management systems. They are essential for protecting intellectual property, tracing leaks, and ensuring compliance with licensing agreements in industries like publishing, entertainment, and software.