Definition: A Vendor ID (VID) is a unique identifier assigned to a manufacturer that allows a USB device to be recognized by a host system.
Explanation
The Vendor ID, commonly referred to as VID, is a numerical value assigned by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) to identify the manufacturer of a USB device. When a device is connected to a computer, the VID is used along with the Product ID (PID) to tell the operating system who made the device and how it should be handled.
This identification process happens automatically during device enumeration, allowing the system to load the correct drivers or apply specific rules associated with that manufacturer. Because the VID is tied to the manufacturer, it helps ensure consistency and traceability across devices produced by the same company.
A helpful analogy is to think of the VID as a company’s license plate prefix on a vehicle. It doesn’t tell you everything about the car, but it immediately identifies who it belongs to, and combined with additional details, it helps distinguish one device from another.
Example
When you plug in a USB flash drive, your computer reads its VID and PID to determine the manufacturer and model, which helps the system decide how to interact with the device and whether any specific drivers are needed.
Who This Is For
This is important for developers, IT professionals, and hardware engineers who need to identify, configure, or troubleshoot USB devices, especially in environments where multiple devices from different manufacturers are used.
Related Terms
PID, USB Controller, Device Enumeration, USB Descriptor, Driver Identification
Also Known As
vendor id, usb vid, manufacturer id