The correct spelling of "Color graphics adaptor" is often disputed. In American English, "Color" is spelled with just one "l", while in British English, "Colour" is spelled with two "l's". Meanwhile, "graphics" is spelled the same way in both American and British English. The word "adaptor" is spelled with an "o" instead of an "e" because it derives from the Latin word "adaptare". The IPA phonetic transcription for this word is /ˈkʌlər ˈɡræfɪks əˈdæptər/.
A color graphics adaptor (CGA) refers to a class of early computer video display standards, predominantly used in the 1980s. It was developed by IBM as an enhancement to its monochrome display adapter (MDA) and served as one of the first standardized graphics display solutions for personal computers. The CGA was primarily employed by the IBM PC and compatible systems, becoming a de facto standard during its time.
With its introduction in 1981, the CGA offered a significant visual improvement over the monochromatic MDA. It enabled computers to display color graphics and images on a monitor, supporting a maximum resolution of 640x200 pixels, which was perceived as a major advancement at the time. Additionally, CGA supported a wider variety of colors compared to its predecessors, allowing for a palette of 16 colors, albeit with various limitations.
The CGA utilized a digital TTL RGBI (Red-Green-Blue-Intensity) working scheme for connecting to a monitor or television via its 9-pin DE-9 connector. However, due to hardware constraints, the color fidelity and resolution of the CGA were limited, resulting in a somewhat blocky appearance and limited color range. As technology progressed, the CGA was eventually superseded by more advanced graphics standards such as the Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA) and Video Graphics Array (VGA).
Despite its technical limitations, the color graphics adaptor revolutionized the computer graphics industry, paving the way for the development of future graphical standards and contributing to the widespread adoption of personal computers in various fields.