1. Introduction
2. Survey Design
2.1. Science Drivers
2.2. Survey Strategy Overview
2.3. Survey Fields
2.4. Multi-Wavelength Data and Photometric Catalogues
2.5. Spectroscopic Target Selection
3. Observations, Data Processing, and Redshift Measurement
3.1. VIMOS on the VLT
3.2. VIMOS Observations
3.3. Spectroscopic Data Processing, Redshift Measurement, and Reliability Flags
3.4. VUDS Spectra
3.5. Comparison Between Spectroscopic and Photometric Redshifts
4. General Properties of the VUDS Sample
4.1. Sample Properties
4.2. Absolute Magnitudes, Stellar Masses and Star Formation Rates
4.3. Average Spectral Properties: Stacked Spectra
5. Comparison with Other Spectroscopic Surveys at High Redshifts
6. Summary