A viewfinder is the part of a camera that a photographer looks through to frame and compose an image. In SLR cameras, the viewfinder provides through-the-lens (TTL) viewing, meaning what you see accurately represents what the lens will capture.
Compact, rangefinder, and digital cameras often have separate viewfinders, which can be less precise, especially at close distances. Understanding the type and accuracy of a viewfinder helps photographers compose images effectively and achieve the intended framing.