VHS是Video Home System的缩写，意为家用录像系统。它是由日本JVC公司在1976年开发的一种家用录像机录制和播放标准。

虽然VHS的官方翻译就是家用录像系统，但是最初VHS代表Vertical Helical Scan（垂直螺旋扫描）的意思，因为它采用了磁头／磁带垂直扫描的技术。有些早期的报道声称VHS是Victor Helical Scan（胜利螺旋扫描）系统的意思，因为JVC的V就是Victor（胜利）的意思。

二十世纪八十年代，在经历了和索尼公司的Betamax格式以及飞利浦的Video 2000格式的竞争之后，VHS成为家用录像机的标准格式。VHS提供了比Betamax格式更长的播放时间，同时磁带传送机构又没有Betamax那幺复杂。VHS比Betamax的快进和后退速度要快很多，因为在磁带高速卷动之前，播放磁头已经离开了磁带。画质方面则是Betamax格式比较好。

The Video Home System (VHS) is a standard for consumer-level use of analog recording on videotape cassettes. It was developed by Victor Company of Japan (JVC) in the 1970s.

From the 1950s magnetic tape video recording became a major contributor to the television industry, via the first commercialized video tape recorders (VTRs). At that time, the devices were used only in expensive professional environments such as television studios and medical imaging (fluoroscopy). In the 1970s videotape entered home use, creating the home video industry and changing the economics of the television and movie businesses. The television industry viewed VCRs as having the power to disrupt their business, while television users viewed the VCR as the means to take control of their hobby.