USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors, and communication protocols used in a bus for connection, communication, and power supply between computers and electronic devices. It is commonly used for data transfer, charging, and connecting devices such as keyboards, mice, printers, cameras, smartphones, and external hard drives to a computer or other compatible device.
- USB was created by a group of seven companies, including Compaq, IBM, and Microsoft, in January 1996.
- The first USB specification, USB 1.0, was released in January 1996 and offered a data transfer rate of 1.5 Mbps.
- USB 2.0, released in April 2000, offered much faster data transfer speed of up to 480 Mbps.
- USB 3.0, released in November 2008, increased the data transfer rate up to 5 Gbps.
- USB 3.1, released in July 2013, doubled the transfer rate to 10 Gbps.
- USB4, released in 2019, supports speeds up to 40 Gbps and adds Thunderbolt 3 support.
- According to USB-IF (USB Implementers Forum), as of 2021, there are over 10 billion USB devices shipped per year.
Thunderbolt is an interface developed by Intel that uses the same physical connector as USB-C but offers faster data transfer, higher power output, and support for multiple 4K displays. It is commonly used in Apple devices and high-end PC systems.
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a proprietary audio/video interface that is used for transmitting uncompressed digital data between devices such as TVs, monitors, and video projectors. It supports high-definition video and audio formats.
DisplayPort is an interface developed by VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) that supports high-definition video, audio, and data transfer. It is commonly used for connecting monitors, TVs, and projectors to PCs and laptops.
Ethernet is a wired networking technology that uses cables to connect devices to a local area network (LAN) or the Internet. It supports fast data transfer speeds and is commonly used in offices, homes, and data centers.
The USB Type-A connector is a rectangular-shaped plug used to connect USB devices to a host computer or USB hub. It is the most common USB connector.
The USB Type-B connector is a square-shaped plug used to connect USB devices, such as printers and scanners, to a host computer or USB hub.
The USB Type-C connector is a small, reversible plug that can be inserted either way. It supports faster data transfer speeds, higher power output, and video and audio transmission, and is increasingly used in modern devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets.
A USB hub is a device that allows multiple USB devices to be connected to a single USB port on a computer or other device. It can provide additional ports and increase the number of devices that can be connected.
A USB flash drive, also known as a thumb drive or memory stick, is a portable storage device that is used for data transfer between computers and other devices. It can store from a few megabytes to several gigabytes of data and is often used for backing up and transporting files.
USB stands for Universal Serial Bus.
USB Type-A is the rectangular-shaped plug commonly used in computers and USB hubs. USB Type-B is the square-shaped plug commonly used in printers and scanners. USB Type-C is a small, reversible plug that supports faster data transfer speeds, higher power output, and video and audio transmission, and is increasingly used in modern devices.
The maximum length of a USB cable is 5 meters (16.4 feet) for USB 2.0 and 3 meters (9.8 feet) for USB 3.0/3.1.
Yes, many smartphones and other portable devices can be charged with a USB cable connected to a computer or a USB power adapter.
Yes, USB 3.0 is backward compatible with USB 2.0, meaning that a USB 3.0 device can be connected to a USB 2.0 port, but the data transfer speed will be limited to USB 2.0 speed.