Censor bars, also known as black bars, are a basic form of text,
photography, and
videocensorship in which "sensitive" information or images are occluded by black, gray, or white rectangular boxes. These bars have been used to censor various parts of images.[1][2] Since the creation of
digital editing software which can apply less obtrusive effects such as
pixelization and
blurring. Censor bars are typically used for
satire,[3][4] although they remain in contemporary use to address
privacy concerns. Censor bars are also used in art forms such as
blackout poetry.
Censor bars may also have the words 'censored', 'redacted', 'private information', 'sensitive information', etc. to indicate their presence.
Sometimes, censor bars are replaced by images instead of just bars.
A portion of the redacted affidavit used to obtain a search warrant for former U.S. President Donald Trump’s
Mar-a-Lago home and resort, with the signature block blacked out.