A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a display panel configured to have a plurality of scanning lines for which liquid crystal display elements each containing an optical input device and a display pixel are arranged, respectively, a backlight configured to be arranged facing the display panel to illuminate the display panel, and a control part configured to control writing into the display pixel and reading of a detection signal of the optical input device, wherein the control part displays an external light detection image substantially shielding light from the backlight on the display pixels throughout a first period of a frame period, and displays a display image on the display pixels throughout a second period of the frame period.