The D-PHY is a source-synchronous, high-speed, low-power, and low-cost physical interface (PHY) primarily designed for mobile applications. This specification is mainly intended for connecting camera and display modules to a host processor, though it can also be adapted for various other systems.

It is expected that the same PHY can be used in a dual-simplex configuration for more general communication networks. The link operates with asymmetrical data rates due to the Master–Slave architecture, which helps reduce overall link complexity.

Some features, such as bi-directional half-duplex communication, are optional. These are particularly beneficial in cases where:

• Data traffic is asymmetrical
• A dedicated return channel would be too costly
• The system prefers to use separate physical return paths

The optional nature of these features helps avoid unnecessary overhead in applications without return-traffic requirements.