It was announced by Apple in October 2008. Apple introduced it for the first time in the models of the end of 2008, and at the beginning of 2013, all new computers Apple Macintosh had the port, as did the LED Cinema Display.
However, in 2016, Apple began phasing out the port and replacing it with the new connector USB

USB

The USB bus is also said to \Hot pluggable\, that is to say that you can connect and disconnect a USB with the PC on. The system installed on the PC (Windows, linux...) recognizes it immediately. The USB has a very interesting feature : it's the mode standby when not using the device. Also known as \Power conservation\ :

-C. the Mini DisplayPort is also installed on some motherboards of PC and some laptops Asus, Microsoft, MSI, Lenovo, Toshiba, HP, Dell and other manufacturers.

Unlike its predecessors Mini-DVI

DVI

The \Digital Visual Interface\ (DVI) or Digital Video Interface was invented by the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG). It is a digital connection used to connect a graphics card to a screen.
It is advantageous (compared to VGA) on the screens where the pixels are physically separated. The DVI connection so significantly improves the quality of the display to the VGA connection with :

and Micro-DVI

DVI

The \Digital Visual Interface\ (DVI) or Digital Video Interface was invented by the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG). It is a digital connection used to connect a graphics card to a screen.
It is advantageous (compared to VGA) on the screens where the pixels are physically separated. The DVI connection so significantly improves the quality of the display to the VGA connection with :

the Mini DisplayPort can drive display devices with resolutions up to 2560 × 1600 (WQXGA) in its implementation DisplayPort 1.1a and 4096 × 2160 (4K) in its implementation DisplayPort 1.2.
With an adapter, the Mini DisplayPort can drive display devices with interfaces VGA

VGA

This cable is used to connect a graphics card to an analog computer screen. The VGA connector consists of 15 pins arranged in three rows. This port is available in two generations : the original version and the DDC2 version, which allows automatic~type monitors.
Some laptops have a miniature version of this connector, the mini~VGA.

, DVI

DVI

The \Digital Visual Interface\ (DVI) or Digital Video Interface was invented by the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG). It is a digital connection used to connect a graphics card to a screen.
It is advantageous (compared to VGA) on the screens where the pixels are physically separated. The DVI connection so significantly improves the quality of the display to the VGA connection with :

or HDMI

HDMI

HDMI is a fully digital audio/video interface that transmits uncompressed encrypted streams. HDMI is used to connect an audio/video source (DVD player, Blu-ray player, computer or game console) to a high-definition TV.
HDMI supports all video formats, including standard, improved, high-definition definition and multichannel sound. HDMI encapsulanses video data by TMDS.

.
Apple offers a free license for the Mini DisplayPort but reserves the right to cancel the license if the licensee initiates a patent infringement action against Apple.

This is the wiring of the connector on the transmitter side; the cabling of the receiver side connector will have lines 0 to 3 reversed in order, i.e. channel 3 will be on pins 3(n) and 5(p) while channel 0 will be on pins 10(n) and 12(p).

Connection Table Mini DisplayPort external

Apple replaced the port DVI

DVI

The \Digital Visual Interface\ (DVI) or Digital Video Interface was invented by the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG). It is a digital connection used to connect a graphics card to a screen.
It is advantageous (compared to VGA) on the screens where the pixels are physically separated. The DVI connection so significantly improves the quality of the display to the VGA connection with :

some MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Mini and Mac Pro by the Mini DisplayPort. Its use as a video connector for the Cinema Display 24 inches can complicate compatibility :

The extension HDCP from Mini DisplayPort disables playback of certain encrypted content DRM on any screen not designed for this. This includes content from iTunes Store that has no such restrictions if read on a Mac without Mini DisplayPort.
Adapters DVI

DVI

The \Digital Visual Interface\ (DVI) or Digital Video Interface was invented by the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG). It is a digital connection used to connect a graphics card to a screen.
It is advantageous (compared to VGA) on the screens where the pixels are physically separated. The DVI connection so significantly improves the quality of the display to the VGA connection with :

or VGA

VGA

This cable is used to connect a graphics card to an analog computer screen. The VGA connector consists of 15 pins arranged in three rows. This port is available in two generations : the original version and the DDC2 version, which allows automatic~type monitors.
Some laptops have a miniature version of this connector, the mini~VGA.

Dual-Link from Apple are relatively large and expensive compared to previous adapters, and customers have reported problems with them, such as the inability to connect to an external display.
Monitors connected to a Mini DisplayPort via these adapters may have resolution issues or not wake up from sleep mode.

While the specification DisplayPort can support digital audio, the old 2009 range of MacBook, MacBook Pro and Mac Mini cannot provide audio signal through the Mini DisplayPort, and only does so via USB

USB

The USB bus is also said to \Hot pluggable\, that is to say that you can connect and disconnect a USB with the PC on. The system installed on the PC (Windows, linux...) recognizes it immediately. The USB has a very interesting feature : it's the mode standby when not using the device. Also known as \Power conservation\ :

, Firewire

FireWire

FireWire is the trade name given by Apple to a multiplexed series interface, also known as the standard IEEE 1394 and also known as the interface i.LINK, trade name used by Sony. It is a computer bus carrying both data and command signals from the various connected devices.

or the audio output port. (The April 2010 range of MacBook Pro and iMac of July 2010 and later support it).
This can be a problem for users who want to connect their computers to TVs HD using an adapter Mini DisplayPort towards HDMI

HDMI

HDMI is a fully digital audio/video interface that transmits uncompressed encrypted streams. HDMI is used to connect an audio/video source (DVD player, Blu-ray player, computer or game console) to a high-definition TV.
HDMI supports all video formats, including standard, improved, high-definition definition and multichannel sound. HDMI encapsulanses video data by TMDS.

. To work around this problem, some third-party manufacturers have created two- or three-head adapters that power the adapter from a port USB

USB

The USB bus is also said to \Hot pluggable\, that is to say that you can connect and disconnect a USB with the PC on. The system installed on the PC (Windows, linux...) recognizes it immediately. The USB has a very interesting feature : it's the mode standby when not using the device. Also known as \Power conservation\ :

, the video from Mini DisplayPort and audio from the port USB

USB

The USB bus is also said to \Hot pluggable\, that is to say that you can connect and disconnect a USB with the PC on. The system installed on the PC (Windows, linux...) recognizes it immediately. The USB has a very interesting feature : it's the mode standby when not using the device. Also known as \Power conservation\ :

or the optical output port.

Each option ends with a single connector HDMI

HDMI

HDMI is a fully digital audio/video interface that transmits uncompressed encrypted streams. HDMI is used to connect an audio/video source (DVD player, Blu-ray player, computer or game console) to a high-definition TV.
HDMI supports all video formats, including standard, improved, high-definition definition and multichannel sound. HDMI encapsulanses video data by TMDS.

female, allowing both video and audio to be channeled via the cable alone HDMI

HDMI

HDMI is a fully digital audio/video interface that transmits uncompressed encrypted streams. HDMI is used to connect an audio/video source (DVD player, Blu-ray player, computer or game console) to a high-definition TV.
HDMI supports all video formats, including standard, improved, high-definition definition and multichannel sound. HDMI encapsulanses video data by TMDS.

.