What is VNC?

VNC, or Virtual Network Computing, is a graphical desktop sharing system that allows you to remotely control one computer from another.

The VNC protocol transmits the keyboard and mouse events from one computer to another, relaying the graphical screen updates back, over a network.

In the context of Raspberry Pi and Linux, VNC is a handy tool. For instance, if you have a Raspberry Pi set up as a home server or part of a robotics project, VNC allows you to access and control it from your main computer.

This remote control capability is especially useful when the Raspberry Pi is situated in a different room, or even a different location altogether.

VNC can also work remotely, over the Internet, but it requires some advance network configuration, like port forwarding or a VPN. It’s possible, but alternatives like Teamviewer are often a better choice.