Refresh rate is how many times per second your screen redraws the picture it shows you. It's measured in hertz (Hz), where 60 Hz means the image refreshes 60 times each second.
Most everyday monitors and laptops use 60 Hz, which is adequate for browsing, working, and watching video. Gaming monitors often offer 120 Hz, 144 Hz, or higher. A higher refresh rate makes motion appear smoother: fast-moving objects in games, films, or sports look less jerky and more fluid. Competitive gamers prioritise high refresh rates because they reduce input lag and give a responsiveness advantage.
Your graphics card must be powerful enough to actually produce the frames needed to take advantage of a high refresh rate. A 144 Hz monitor paired with a weak GPU won't show the benefit, since the graphics card can't generate 144 frames per second. You'll also need content or a game engine that actually runs at those speeds.
Other factors affect perceived smoothness too: response time (how fast pixels change colour), panel technology (IPS, TN, VA), and adaptive sync technologies like FreeSync or G-Sync. A 60 Hz display with excellent response time might feel smoother than a sluggish 144 Hz panel.
When shopping, match refresh rate to your actual needs. For office work and casual use, 60 Hz is plenty. For gaming, aim for at least 120 Hz if your budget allows and your GPU can keep up. For content creation, refresh rate matters less than colour accuracy.