VGA cables were first introduced during the late 1980s. Since then, 15-pin VGA cables have become a widely used standard for connecting various types of electronic devices that use video signals. The acronym VGA stands for Video Graphics Array and is commonly heard today as something of an umbrella term for various types of cable/connector that share a common base pin layout and socket format.
These familiar VGA cables and their instantly recognisable 15-pin connectors are frequently found in both home and office desktop PC setups, usually carrying a visual signal from a desktop computer to a monitor VGA input. Similarly, they’re also used for linking various other types of video output devices - such as laptops, video cards, projectors, and certain varieties of set-top boxes - to TVs, monitors, all-in-one PCs, and various other types of screened display peripherals.
Standard VGA cables remain vital for establishing a reliable video or graphics link between computers, monitors, projectors and high definition television sets in both domestic and commercial environments. It’s more common for smaller devices (such as compact laptop computers) to have a mini-VGA port installed, as opposed to a full-sized VGA connector, but these miniature versions play exactly the same role in terms of graphical signal transfer.
In this guide, we’ll give an overview of what VGA cable types are available and look a bit more closely at how they’re used, defined, and differentiated. We’ll also address a few frequently asked questions about VGA cables, including ‘what is a VGA port symbol?’ and ‘what’s the difference between VGA and newer standards like HDMI?’.