EGA is an acronym that stands for "Enhanced Graphics Adapter." It refers to a standard video display introduced by IBM in 1984 as an improvement to the previous CGA (Color Graphics Adapter) technology. EGA was designed for personal computers and allowed for improved graphical capabilities and resolutions.
EGA offered a resolution of 640x350 pixels, which was a significant upgrade from CGA's 320x200 resolution. It was also capable of displaying up to 16 different colors simultaneously from a palette of 64 colors. This expanded range of colors provided more precise and realistic graphic rendering compared to the limited color options of its predecessor.
In addition to the increased graphical capabilities, EGA featured compatibility with both text and graphics modes. This allowed for the simultaneous display of both text characters and graphical elements, enhancing the overall visual output of the screen.
Furthermore, EGA supported various screen modes, including text, standard graphics, and high-resolution graphics. Users had the flexibility to choose the appropriate mode depending on their requirements, such as word processing, gaming, or graphic design.
EGA was widely adopted in the 1980s and played a crucial role in bridging the gap between the more rudimentary CGA and the later VGA (Video Graphics Array) standards, which offered even higher resolutions and more advanced color options. Despite being considered outdated by current standards, EGA remains a significant milestone in the history of computer graphics and an important step towards the development of modern display technologies.
