Super VHS, commonly abbreviated as S-VHS, is an analog video cassette format introduced by JVC in 1987 as an improved version of the VHS (Video Home System) format.
The format used the same physical cassette format as VHS, but required higher-quality magnetic tape and compatible recording and playback equipment.
S-VHS tape recorders are backward compatible with standard VHS tapes, allowing them to play and record in the VHS format. However, S-VHS tapes generally cannot be played on VHS-only devices due to differences in signal encoding.
Despite its technical advantages, the S-VHS format struggled to gain widespread consumer adoption due to the high cost of equipment and tapes, as well as the limited availability of pre-recorded content.