Is an IPS display a TFT display? Some websites claim they're different

[Blondie21]

Is an IPS diplay a TFT display?

Some websites claim that IPS is better than TFT

But other websites say that IPS is better than TN, and that IPS and TN displays are both called TFT displays.

 

[coozie7]

A lot of websites call all types of panel TFT (Thin Film Transistor) which is correct because it's the base technology, but it's also the same as calling a every vacuum cleaner a Hoover.
Each type of sub class has its strengths and weaknesses: TN are fast and very responsive, ideal for twitch shooters but they don't give particularly good colours and you need to be pretty well dead centred in front of one, otherwise the image colours become distorted (this is the 'viewing angle' you've also seen in the specs).
IPS and PLS panels are slower but give better colours and much wider viewing angles, they do, however sometimes suffer from input lag, the time in thousandths of a second between you moving the mouse or joystick and the screen responding which makes them less responsive (particularly noticed by younger FPS players).
PVA, MVA tend to be slower still but give the best contrast and, I think widest colour range making them poor choices for games but brilliant for movies or where colour accuracy is paramount-think photographic artists and editors.