Network video recorder

{{Short description|Video hardware}}

{{More citations needed|date=May 2013}}

File:IPCorder NVR with cameras.jpg

A network video recorder (NVR) is a specialized computer system that records video{{Cite news|url=https://kintronics.com/solutions/ip-camera-systems/video-recording-systems/network-video-recorder/|title=Network Video Recorder {{!}} NVR and Video Management Systems for IP Cameras|work=Kintronics|access-date=2018-10-23|language=en-US}} to a disk drive, USB flash drive, memory card, or other mass storage device. An NVR itself contains no cameras, but connects to them through a network, typically as part of an IP video surveillance system. NVRs typically have embedded operating systems.

As a more flexible and serviceable alternative to NVRs, ordinary computers may be equipped with video management software (VMS).

NVRs differ from digital video recorders (DVRs), as an NVR's input is from a network rather than a direct connection to a video capture card or tuner. Video on a DVR is encoded and processed at the DVR, while video on an NVR is encoded and processed at the camera, then streamed to the NVR for storage or remote viewing.{{Cite web|title=Determining the Right Storage Option for Video|url=https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/83353-determining-the-right-storage-option-for-video?v=preview|access-date=2020-08-19|website=www.securitymagazine.com|language=en}}

Additional processing may be done at the NVR, such as further compression or tagging with metadata.

Hybrid NVR/DVR surveillance systems exist which incorporate functions of both NVR and DVR.