What is the final output format when light strikes the image sensor?

When light strikes the image sensor of a camera, it is converted into a digital signal. This process begins when the light photons hit the photodiodes within the image sensor, which generates an analog signal that corresponds to the intensity of the light. However, for the final output to be usable in modern digital systems, this analog signal must be converted into a digital format through an analog-to-digital converter (ADC).

The digital signal represents pixel values in a format that can be processed, transmitted, and stored by digital devices. This conversion allows for a range of functionalities, including image manipulation, enhancement, and efficient storage.

While raw data refers to unprocessed sensor information and a video stream indicates a continuous flow of video frames, neither of these represents the immediate output format of the image sensor after light strikes it. The final output that is most relevant in the context of digital imaging technologies is indeed the digital signal produced after the conversion of the initial sensor output.