Videocassette

A videocassette is a magnetic tape stored inside a plastic cartridge used to record and play back video and accompanying audio. The tape is wound on reels; a VCR reads and writes the signal as the tape passes the read/write head, typically at the speed and density required for standard-definition TV signals.

The videocassette format was introduced for home use in the 1960s and 1970s, with major hardware and licensing developments during the 1970s and 1980s. The two best-known consumer formats were VHS, developed by JVC and released in 1976, and Betamax, developed by Sony and released in 1975. Betamax offered higher image quality in early demonstrations but VHS offered longer recording times and broader market support, leading to its broader adoption.

Other formats included the 8mm and Video8 family for compact camcorders, and variants such as VHS-C and S-VHS. Videocassettes supported different recording methods; VHS and its successors often used hi-fi audio recording, while original formats used linear analog audio tracks. The tapes varied in length, providing different maximum recording times.

With the rise of DVDs, digital video recorders, and streaming, consumer videocassette products declined from the late 1990s onward, and by the 2010s they were largely obsolete for new purchases. Some archives and enthusiasts retain collections on magnetic tape, and professional workflows continued to use formats like Betacam for some years after consumer markets shifted.