It is also sometimes used to describe the total number of pixels on a monitor. Most monitors can display at 72 dpi.
Monitors come in a variety of resolutions.
They can get as small as 320 pixels by 200 pixels or as large as 1280 by 1024. Printers can also print at many different resolutions. The resolution can be as small as 128 dpi or less, to 300 dpi on inkjet printers, to 720 dpi on laser printer, and up to 2000 dpi on high quality type-setters.