Visual FoxPro原名FoxBase，是美国Fox Software公司推出的编程语言，主要用于数据库，在DOS上运行，与xBase系列兼容。FoxPro原来是FoxBase的加强版，最高版本曾出过2.6。之后，Fox Software被微软收购，加以发展，使其可以在Windows上运行16bit版本为FoxPro for Windows Ver 2.6，中文版为FoxPro for Windows 2.5b，之后32bit版本并且更名为Visual FoxPro。

Visual FoxPro 3.0一推出，就受到广大用户的欢迎。因为xBase类的语言，如dBase、Clipper、InterBase、Paradox等，当时还无法在Windows上运行，于是Visual FoxPro成为市场上的霸主。

Visual FoxPro is a data-centric, object-oriented, procedural, programming language produced by Microsoft. It is derived from FoxPro (originally known as FoxBASE) which was developed by Fox Software beginning in 1984. It contained the fastest PC-based database engine available at the time. Fox Technologies merged with Microsoft in 1992, after which the software acquired further features and the prefix "Visual". The database engine became known as the Microsoft Jet Database Engine which was used by Microsoft Access. The last version, (FoxPro 2.6) worked on Mac OS, DOS, Windows, and Unix: Visual FoxPro 3.0, the first "Visual" version, reduced platform support to only Mac and Windows, and later versions were Windows-only. The current version of Visual FoxPro is COM-based and Microsoft has stated that they do not intend to create a Microsoft .NET version.