In electronics, a remote control is a component of an electronic device used to operate the device wirelessly from a distance. For example, in consumer electronics, a remote control can be used to operate devices such as a TV, DVD player or other appliance, from a short distance. A remote control is primarily a convenience feature for the user, and may allow the operation of devices that are out of range suitable for direct operation of the controls. In some cases, remote controls allow a person to operate a device that they could not otherwise reach, such as when a garage door opener is triggered from the outside or when a Digital Light Processing projector that is mounted on a high ceiling is controlled by a person from the floor level.
Early television remote controls (1956-1977) used ultrasonic tones. Current remote controls are commonly consumer infrared devices that send digitally encoded pulses of infrared radiation to control functions such as power, volume, pitch, temperature set point, fan speed, or other characteristics. The remote controls of these devices are usually small handheld wireless objects with a series of buttons to adjust various settings such as TV channel, track number and volume. For many devices, the remote control contains all function controls while the controlled device itself has only a handful of essential primary controls. The remote control code, and therefore the required remote control device, is usually specific to one product line, but there are universal remotes that emulate the remote control for most devices of the primary brand.