webcam

This term is a portmanteau of web and camera, reflecting its specific function as a hardware device for internet-based communication. It is used in both casual and professional registers, though in highly technical documentation, it may be referred to as an imaging device or a video capture device.

While the term primarily refers to the physical hardware, it is frequently used metonymically to refer to the video feed itself, such as in the phrase "the webcam is lagging," where the speaker refers to the stream rather than the physical camera.