A Home Theater PC (HTPC) combines the functions of a digital video recorder and a personal computer and is designed to play and store movies.

It is connected to a television or a television-sized computer display and is often used as a digital photo, music, video player, TV receiver and digital video recorder.

With the addition of software, a regular PC can be turned into a HTPC, and its CD/DVD drives provide an economical alternative to many stand-alone CD/DVD players that might be purchased for a home theater.

The general goal in a HTPC is usually to combine many or all components of a home theater setup into one box. They can be purchased pre-configured with the required hardware and software needed to add television programming to the PC. Windows XP Media Center is an HTPC.