What color depth does the VGA standard support?

The VGA (Video Graphics Array) standard, which was introduced in 1987, supports a color depth of 256 colors at a resolution of 320x200 pixels, primarily using an 8-bit color palette. This means that from a palette of potential colors, 256 can be displayed all at once. The choice indicating 16 colors does reflect a lower resolution mode available in older graphics standards known as CGA (Color Graphics Adapter), which VGA succeeded. VGA's primary capability, particularly in its standard mode, allows for a maximum display of 256 distinct colors.

Options that suggest higher color depths, such as 16 million or 1 billion colors, relate to more advanced video graphics standards beyond VGA, such as those that support true color (24-bit color or more). While these resolutions and color depths are indeed prevalent in modern graphics technologies, in the context of VGA, the correct reference points to its limitation primarily set at 256 distinct colors.