The electronic viewfinder is more like ones found on camcorders.
Many cameras offer one optical and one electronic viewfinder.
Some only offer the electronic type. A few entry-level models only offer the optical finder. The electronic viewfinder is an LCD display, generally color. LCDs are power hogs that drain your camera's batteries quickly, but they re critical if you need to be sure you got the shot. They are hard to see in bright conditions, as they tend to wash out.