How did very-large-scale integration increase microprocessor circuit density?

Very-large-scale integration (VLSI) increased microprocessor circuit density by enabling the placement of a vast number of electronic components—eventually reaching billions—onto a single silicon chip of the same physical size as earlier, less dense integrated circuits.1

While early large-scale integration (LSI) allowed for thousands of transistors, diodes, and resistors to be packed onto a chip, VLSI technology significantly advanced this capability during the 1980s. This progression was supported by improved manufacturing methods, which allowed for higher component counts without increasing the chip's footprint. This trend of increasing complexity aligns with Moore’s law, which observed that the complexity of integrated circuits approximately doubles every 18 to 24 months.12