The Silicon Vertex Tracker (SVT) of the BABAR experiment at the PEP-II asymmetric B factory consists of a five-layer double sided, AC coupled silicon microstrip detector. It represents a key element to measure with precision the decay position of B mesons, satisfying the severe constraints imposed by the accelerator design, in terms of geometry of the interaction region and conditions of operation. In the following paper, a critical review of the SVT general design and performance is made, with special attention to those details of the design and the assembly procedure that are considered a source of possible problems given the experience accumulated during the construction, the commissioning and the first 5 years of operation. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.