VIDs

VIDs is an acronym with several meanings across technology and media, and its exact sense depends on the context.

In hardware and computing, the most common meaning is Vendor ID. A USB Vendor ID is a 16-bit identifier assigned by the USB Implementers Forum to a hardware maker. It is used in conjunction with a Product ID (PID) to uniquely identify a device and its manufacturer to the operating system, drivers, and applications. When devices are described or cataloged, strings such as USB\VID_1A2B&PID_0034 may appear, illustrating the vendor and product. Vendor IDs help ensure correct driver matching, diagnostics, and device management. They are unique to each manufacturer and are registered to prevent conflicts.

In everyday use, vid is also a shorthand for video. In informal writing and online contexts, VIDs can refer to video clips or files, and the plural form is used to denote multiple videos. This usage is not a formal standard and varies with the community or platform.

In business and procurement, a vendor ID or vendor identification code is a separate concept used to identify suppliers within purchasing systems, ERP software, catalogs, and vendor management processes. While it shares the general idea of “identifying a vendor,” this usage is distinct from the USB-specific VID.

Overall, VIDs can denote a hardware vendor identifier, a short form for video content, or a vendor identification code, with the intended meaning clarified by the surrounding context.