[3] In November 1988, NEC Home Electronics announced its creation of the association to develop and promote a Super VGA computer display standard as a successor to IBM's proprietary Video Graphics Array (VGA) display standard.

[4] The organization has since issued several additional standards related to computer video displays.

Widely used VESA standards include DisplayHDR, DisplayPort, and Flat Display Mounting Interface.

As of 2010, current standards documents from VESA cost hundreds to thousands of dollars each.

At the time DisplayPort was announced, VESA was criticized for developing the specification in secret and having a track record of developing unsuccessful digital interface standards, including Plug & Display and Digital Flat Panel.