For showing color images, computers use the VGA graphics standard. Resolutions of 640 x 480 at 16 colors or 320 x 200 at 256 colors are supported by the initial standard. Additionally, it describes the 15-pin VGA monitor connection that goes with it.

The VGA standard was created by IBM in 1987 for their PS/2 computer system, and it quickly became the norm for the rest of the IBM compatible PC business. The 640 x 480 16-color display format is still regarded as the lowest common standard that a computer allows because of its enduring appeal. Extensions to VGA that permitted higher resolutions, such as SVGA (800 x 600) and XGA (1024 x 768), as well as higher color density up to 24-bit were made possible by the creation of more potent graphics processors (more than 16 million colors).

From its debut until its ultimate displacement by DVI, HDMI, and DP, the 15-pin VGA connecter served as the de facto link between PCs and monitors (as well as projectors, TVs, and other screens). Through an analog link, a VGA connection transmits video signals from a computer to a display, making the signal susceptible to disturbance from other electronic devices and signal deterioration over lengthy connections.