VDA files are used to store graphics in the form of bitmaps. Data in VDA files are saved using the TARGA format, which was developed by Truevision. Originally, this format was used for TARGA and VISTA graphics cards. These devices were the first to support the high color and true color standards. The resolution of files of this format was characteristic of the NTSC and PAL standards. VDA files can store a maximum of 32 bits of memory for each pixel of an image.

The TARGA standard was taken over by Pinnacle Systems, and most files of this format have the TGA extension.