In a video compression scheme, such as for picture information on a DVD, a frame that is complete. In order to begin playback, an I-frame must be located. Other frames (B-frames, P-frames, q.v.) are just the differences from adjacent frames. Thus frame 1 may be an I-frame. Frame 2 on the DVD might be a P-frame which when combined with frame 1, yields the complete frame 2 for display. Frame 3 on the DVD might be a B-frame which when combined with the complete frame 2 we just derived (or from complete frame 4 in backwards single stepping), yields the complete Frame 3, and so on. Usually there is an I-frame about every ten frames, so the player doesn't have to hunt too far when resuming playback in the middle of the program.

This definition is in context to Television. See more contextual defintions for I-Frame (Intra-Frame).