VAX is a series of computers featuring a 32-bit instruction set architecture (ISA) and virtual memory that was developed and sold by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) in the late 20th century. The VAX-11/780, introduced October 25, 1977, was the first of a range of popular and influential computers implementing the VAX ISA. The VAX family was a huge success for DEC, with the last members arriving in the early 1990s, and it was succeeded by the DEC Alpha.
Facts
SignificanceLike the PDP-11, VAX was very successful, providing the majority of DEC's sales, sales growth and profit from the early 1980s to early 1990s 2 Connections
In Field
Invented By
Gordon Bell led the architecture group that designed the VAX at Digital Equipment Corporation, introduced in 1977 as the 32-bit successor to the PDP-11.
Preceded By
PDP-11, Systems VAX was explicitly designed as the 32-bit virtual-addressing successor to the 16-bit PDP-11 at Digital Equipment Corporation.
In the Other Atlases
Developed By
Also in Business Atlas: the developer of this subject.
Sources
1. Wikidata: VAX
- Wikidata Q960616, resolved via en.wikipedia pageprops (wave rule R-L)
- Wikidata Q960616 P577 (publication/release date) claim -> 1977; checked 2026-09-28
View the Source2. VAX - Wikipedia
History section
Like PDP-11, VAX was very successful; it provided the majority of DEC's sales, sales growth, and profit from the early 1980s to early 1990s.
- In Group: DEC PDP and VAX Systems, Wikidata instance-of computing platform and computer model series
In Field: Computer Architecture, Lead sentence
VAX (an acronym for virtual address extension) is a series of computers featuring a 32-bit instruction set architecture (ISA) and virtual memory that was developed and sold by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) in the late 20th century.
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