VESA Plug and Display (abbreviated as P&D) is a video connector that carries digital signals for monitors, such as flat panel displays and video projectors, ratified by Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) in 1997. Introduced around the same time as the competing connectors for the Digital Visual Interface (DVI, 1999) and VESA's own Digital Flat Panel (DFP, 1999), it was marketed as a replacement for the VESA Enhanced Video Connector (EVC, 1994). Unlike DVI, it never achieved widespread implementation.
The P&D connector shares the 30-pin plus quad-coax layout of EVC, which carries digital video, analog video, and data over Universal Serial Bus (USB) and IEEE 1394 (FireWire). At a minimum, the P&D connector is required to carry digital video, in which case the connector is designated P&D-D; when both digital and analog video are included, the connector is designated P&D-A/D.
VESA Plug and Display symbol[1]: §9.4 
Mark
Meaning
Mark
Meaning
A1
D
Non-standard
A2
D1
25–65 MHz
A3
Euro
D2
65–112 MHz
A4
D3
112–160 MHz
IEEE
Supports IEEE 1394-1995
USB
Supports USB
(none)
No IEEE 1394 support
(none)
No USB support
The P&D receptacle and plug are required to bear a standardized symbol to designate the standards with which it is compatible. The upper left quadrant designates analog video support. The upper right quadrant designates digital video support. The lower quadrants designate IEEE 1394 and USB support.[1]: §9.4
All P&D connectors are required to carry single-link TMDS digital video signal (max 160 MHz), and support VESA Display Data Channel version 2 at a minimum.[1]: §10.1 Maximum resolution is 1600×1280 with a 60 Hz refresh rate.[1]: §1.2.2
Analogue video signals, if supported, must be provided as three separate color channels (red / green / blue) along with one composite or two (horizontal & vertical) sync signals.[1]: §9 The nominal impedance of each signal line is 75 Ω and each channel must be capable of carrying a bandwidth of at least 2.4 GHz.[1]: §7.10.1.9 The type designation for the analogue video signals designates the voltage values of the signals only, including the Type 4 (VESA) analog DC protocol introduced with EVC:[1]: §4.5.2.1
P&D analog video signal levels[1]: §4.5.2.1
Signal
Type 1
RS-170
Type 2
RS-343
Type 3
Euro
Type 4
VESA
Peak
+1.000 V
+0.714 V
+0.700 V
+0.700 VDC
Minimum
+0.075 V
+0.054 V
+0.000 V
+0.000 VDC
Blank
Reference
Reference
Reference
+0.000 VDC
-0.400 V
-0.286 V
-0.300 V
None
The P&D connector supports optional charging power at 18–20 VDC and up to 1.5 A.[1]: §4.6 In addition, a stereoscopic display synchronization signal is supported as an option.[1]: §4.7 Data signals over USB and FireWire also are optional.
USB version is not specified,[1]: §8.5 but if supported, it would have been intended for contemporary USB standards. The USB connector is intended for passing mouse movements from a projector's wireless remote to the computer's presentation software and for firmware upgrades.[2]
FireWire, if supported, must be compliant to IEEE 1394-1995 specification.[1]: §8.6
Although the pin layout is copied from VESA EVC, the connector shell is slightly different: EVC uses a trapezoid shape, while P&D uses a D-shape. The interface is protected by patents issued to Molex.[1]: §7.1 With the introduction of P&D, EVC continued as the connector for analog-only signals and is sometimes known as P&D-A; the EVC/P&D family was completed with combination analog/digital (P&D-A/D) and digital-only (P&D-D) connectors.[1]: §12.1 P&D-A/D is compatible with EVC devices (except for the missing VESA EVC features), P&D-D is not.
P&D and EVC interoperability[1]: §12
Host
(receptacle)
Monitor
(plug)
EVC[a]
P&D-A/D
P&D-D
EVC[a]
Yes
Yes
No
P&D-D
No
Yes
Yes
In addition to the regular P&D connector, the standard also specifies a 40-pin microribbon connector, which is only defined when making digital video connection via P&D-D.[1]: §10.3
The P&D port is sometimes mistaken as an alternative form of the Apple Display Connector,[3] but ADC carries higher current, has different pin layout, and does not support FireWire.
VESA P&D receptacle pinouts[1]: §7.8 
Pin
Function
P&D-A/D
P&D-D
1
General purpose, third make
TMDS Data2 +
2
TMDS Data2 -
3
TMDS Data2 return
4
Horizontal & Vertical sync return
Not used
5
Horizontal sync / Composite sync
Not used
6
Vertical sync
Not used
7
TMDS Clock return
8
General purpose, fourth make
Charge power +
9
General purpose, third make
1394 pair A, data -
10
1394 pair A, data +
11
TMDS Data1 +
12
TMDS Data1 -
13
TMDS Data1 return
14
TMDS Clock +
15
TMDS Clock -
16
USB data +
17
USB data -
18
General purpose, fourth make
1394 outer shield (optional) & Charge Power return
19
General purpose, third make
1394 Vg
20
1394 Vp
21
TMDS Data0 +
22
TMDS Data0 -
23
TMDS Data0 return
24
Stereo sync
Not used
25
DDC return & Stereo sync return
26
DDC data (SDA)
27
DDC clock (SCL)
28
General purpose, fourth make
+5 VDC
29
General purpose, third make
1394 pair B, Clock +
30
1394 pair B, Clock -
C1
Quasi-Coaxial, fourth make
Red Video Out
Not used
C2
Green Video Out
Not used
C3
Pixel clock (optional)
Not used
C4
Blue Video Out
Not used
C5
Common ground for quasi-coaxial lines, second make
Video / Pixel Clock Return
Used as mechanical key
Analog audio
Digital audio
Video
Audio and video
Visual charts
General-purpose
