The Webcam Social Shopper is one example of software that utilizes the webcam in this manner.

Webcam can be added to instant messaging, text chat services such as AOL Instant Messenger, and Vo IP services such as Skype, one-to-one live video communication over the Internet has now reached millions of mainstream PC users worldwide.

For a more complete list see Comparison of webcam software.

Special software can use the video stream from a webcam to assist or enhance a user's control of applications and games.

The lenses of the cameras are removed and then these are attached to telescopes to record images, video, still, or both.

In newer techniques, videos of very faint objects are taken for a couple of seconds and then all the frames of the video are "stacked" together to obtain a still image of respectable contrast.

When "captured" by the computer, the video stream may be saved, viewed or sent on to other networks travelling through systems such as the internet, and e-mailed as an attachment.Unauthorized access of webcams can present significant privacy issues (see "Privacy" section below).In December 2011, Russia announced that 290,000 Webcams would be installed in 90,000 polling stations to monitor the Russian presidential election, 2012.Video features, including faces, shapes, models and colors can be observed and tracked to produce a corresponding form of control.For example, the position of a single light source can be tracked and used to emulate a mouse pointer, a head-mounted light would enable hands-free computing and would greatly improve computer accessibility.Webcams can be used to take video clips and still pictures.Various software tools in wide use can be employed for this, such as Pic Master (for use with Windows operating systems), Photo Booth (Mac), or Cheese (with Unix systems).The Eye Toy for the Play Station 2, Play Station Eye for the Play Station 3, and the Xbox Live Vision camera and Kinect motion sensor for the Xbox 360 and are color digital cameras that have been used as control input devices by some games.Small webcam-based PC games are available as either standalone executables or inside web browser windows using Adobe Flash.Other popular uses include security surveillance, computer vision, video broadcasting, and for recording social videos.The video streams provided by webcams can be used for a number of purposes, each using appropriate software: Most modern webcams are capable of capturing arterial pulse rate by the use of a simple algorithmic trick.making them the lowest-cost form of videotelephony.Despite the low cost, the resolution offered at present (2015) is rather impressive, with low-end webcams offering resolutions of 320×240, medium webcams offering 640×480 resolution, and high-end webcams offering 1280×720 (aka 720p) or even 1920×1080 (aka 1080p) resolution.Webcams have been used for augmented reality experiences online.One such function has the webcam act as a "magic mirror" to allow an online shopper to view a virtual item on themselves.