Betamax is a video cassette format developed by Sony in the mid-1970s. It was one of the first consumer video recording technologies, allowing users to record television programs and play them back later. Betamax tapes were known for their high-quality video and audio, making them popular among early adopters. Despite its superior quality, Betamax faced tough competition from the VHS format, which offered longer recording times and became more widely adopted. The format war between Betamax and VHS ultimately led to the decline of Betamax, and it was eventually discontinued in the late 2000s.