VHS stands for Video Home System. It is a standard definition analog video recording format that was widely used in videocassette recorders (VCRs) from the 1970s to the early 2000s. VHS is characterized by its magnetic tape, which contains two sprocket holes on either side of the tape for stabilization and guidance while playing or recording. The format was developed as a competitor to other home video formats such as Betamax, but eventually became the dominant standard due to its widespread availability and compatibility with most VCRs at the time.