Abstract Computer Graphics is one of the most important, far-reaching, sophisticated, and glamorous endeavors of the computer field. It can be useful to every discipline that employs to advantage the computer. At the present time it is available for all the major computer areas—input, output, programming, and debugging. Whence did it originate? Exactly what is it and how can it be used? What are its future trends? These questions are considered in this article which divides Computer Graphics into two main divisions—passive and interactive. This article describes the most popular subdivisions of passive graphics—microfilm recorders and plotters—in detail. Computer Animation and Computer-generated movies as well as the main types of display devices are included under interactive graphics. This survey article considers the history of all the main types of computer graphics; discusses the typical hardware and main attributes as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each type; presents a section on computer-aided design, and a section on computer graphics professional groups and societies; and in its conclusion indicates some of the pit-falls of this powerful computing tool.