EDUCBA

EDUCBA

MENUMENU
  • Free Tutorials
  • Free Courses
  • Certification Courses
  • 600+ Courses All in One Bundle
  • Login

Types of USB Ports

Home » Software Development » Software Development Tutorials » Computer Tutorial » Types of USB Ports

Types of USB Ports

Introduction to USB Ports

It is impossible to think of the modern world without computers and a host of gadgets connected to it. Laptops, Desktops, Tabs, and mobile phones need to interact with multiple peripheral devices to exchange data as part of business applications as well as personal needs. Though wireless connectivity has gathered momentum with the advent of mobile computers, wired connectivity still plays a major role in the computer world in data connectivity.

Types of USB Ports in the computers provide physical connection points with the external devices and it is the terminal point (Slots) in the computer hardware that provides entry/exit for data exchange with peripherals. Some of the ports exchange power to the devices. Keyboard, Mouse, Printers, Microphone, Display terminal, CD player, network, and Camera are the few of the external devices that can be connected to the ports.

Start Your Free Software Development Course

Web development, programming languages, Software testing & others

Several types of ports are a. Serial port, b. Parallel port, c. PS/2 Port, d. Universal Serial Bus(USB) port,

VGA (Video Graphics Array) port, f. Power connector, g. Firewire port, h. Modem port, i. Ethernet port, j. The game port, k. Digital Video Interface (DVI) port, l. Sockets. All these ports are not used in one computer currently and some of them are extinct. If there is a need to use the old devices with extinct port connection, adopter cables with multi interfaces can be used.

Brief on USB

  1. A consortium of 7 companies (Compaq, DEC, Intel, IBM, Microsoft, Nortel, and NEC) developed USB with a goal of simplifying the connectivity of external devices with PC and avoid multiple connectors and usability issues, have a simpler software configuration for connecting the devices and increase data transfer
  2. Users don’t have to configure USB interface to suit the devices connected and devices are self- configured.
  3. Access channels, device settings, speed, Interrupts, addresses are auto-configured by the
  4. At the host level, USB connectors are standardized hence there is no restriction at the
  5. USB fully exploits the power of the devices without having to readjust any
  6. USB connections can be changed without rebooting the PC
  7. USB can feed power to tiny devices thus eliminating additional cables
  8. USB has an inbuilt mechanism to manage errors and provides reliable operational performance levels
  9. It needs minimum or nil effort from user end to operate multiple devices in USB
  10. Uniform standards of USB interface eliminate the need for propriety interfaces at the device level and make device manufacturers life
  11. USB interfaces are designed in such a way that it does not take too much of computer resources during the data add affecting the performance
  12. USB is universally available in all the computers and devices and it is the default interfacing standard.
  13. It has replaced the serial port and parallel port in the

Types of USB ports

In this article let’s analyze various types:

The host is the computer to which the peripheral devices (receptor) are connected through a USB cable plugged in the slot (port) provided in the host computer. USB ports can be categorized based either on versions of USB (USB 1.x, USB 2.x …) or the type of USB cable (Connector type A, B, C..). USB version focuses on speed and functionalities of the cable and the connector type deals with the physical design of the plug and the ports. Let’s examine both categories.

Type-A This is the most popular among all USB brands and its cross-section is elongated rectangular and it is connected to a type-A port on the host side. This cable is used for exchanging data and power. Type-A ports are common in desktop, laptop, media players, and gaming consoles.

Popular Course in this category
All in One Software Development Bundle (600+ Courses, 50+ projects)600+ Online Courses | 3000+ Hours | Verifiable Certificates | Lifetime Access
4.6 (3,144 ratings)
Course Price

View Course

Related Courses
Windows 10 Training (4 Courses, 4+ Projects)JWS Java Web Services Training (4 Courses, 11 Projects)Java Training (40 Courses, 29 Projects, 4 Quizzes)

Type-B Cross section of this plug is square with beveled top corners on the exterior side. Being part of the cable it is inserted into the upstream port of the peripheral device. Some devices will not have a type-B port and the cable is used only for powering it from the host. Type-B plugs are used in printers, hard drives, and phones.

Type-C Apple’s 12-inch Macbook is the first notebook to incorporate type-C in its design. Physically it looks like a Micro-B USB. It’s a small size 8.4 mm X 2.6 mm enables it to fit into modern tiny peripheral devices. Both the ends of this type of cable are identical and any end can be connected to host computer or devices and every time you will be able to plug the cable correctly.

It belongs to the latest USB family and it can transfer the data at 10 Gbps and transmit power up to 20V 100W and 5 amps. Data or power can be transmitted in bi-directional mode and type-C cable can be easily used charge power laptop whose power requirement is 40 to 70 watts.

Type-C is used in Major brands like Chromebook Pixel, Nokia N1 Tab, Nexus 6P smartphone. In future all the electronic devices will support type-C USB and it would become the default standard. This single cable standard will simplify the way the electronic devices are going to be handled in the future and it will replace all the other cables soon and give us freedom.

Mini and Micro Connectors Mini connectors release was synchronized with USB 2.0 version in Apr2000 for connecting digital cameras, Phones, and Tabs. Micro connectors released in 2007 have half the thickness of Mini connectors that connects to PDAs.

USB 1.0 This version was released in 1996 with a low speed of 1.5Mbps to high speed 12 Mbps. There were few devices manufactured in USB 1.0 and the next version USB 1.1 was adopted widely. It did not specify any design smaller than type-A and Type-B connectors.

USB 2.0 Released in Apr-2000 which can peak up to 480Mbps. Mini-A, Mini-B connectors, Micro USB, and many other USB supplements belong to this version.

USB 3.0 This spec was released in Nov-2008 and it is in the super speed range of 5Gbps and USB 3.1 was released in July 2013 attained the data transfer speed of 10Gbps. USB 3.2 released in Sep 2017 touched the speed of 20Gbps

USB 4 USB implementation forum released this version in Aug 2019 and it follows Thunderbolt 3 Protocol and it has backward compatibility.

Conclusion

Though wireless communication picks up momentum with achieving mobile connectivity when people are in the move, USB provides stable and secured connections and meet the physical size requirements to connect any device however small it is.

Recommended Articles

This is a guide to Types of USB Ports. Here we discuss an introduction to USB Ports with brief explanation and various types of ports in detail. You can also go through our other related articles to learn more –

  1. React-Native StyleSheet
  2. Socket Programming in C++
  3. Android Software
  4. Selenium Software

All in One Software Development Bundle (600+ Courses, 50+ projects)

600+ Online Courses

3000+ Hours

Verifiable Certificates

Lifetime Access

Learn More

0 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share
Primary Sidebar
Computer Tutorial
  • Computer Basics
    • New Technologies of Computer
    • Application of Computer Graphics
    • Types of Computer Architecture
    • Types of Computer Software
    • Line Drawing Algorithm
    • SOAP Web Services Interview Questions
    • Web Services Interview Questions
    • Microservices Interview Questions
    • What is Windows 10?
    • Windows 10 Desktop Mode
    • Windows Commands  
    • Windows Interview Questions
    • Windows Networking Commands
    • Windows Operators
    • Windows Server Interview Questions
    • Introduction to Windows
    • Top Windows Phone Apps
    • Windows Monitoring Tool
    • Productivity tricks for Windows 10
    • Computer Network Advantages and Disadvantages
    • Computer Network Interview Questions
    • Introduction To Computer Network
    • What is Embedded Systems
    • Components of Embedded System
    • Embedded Systems Security
    • Types of Computer Network
    • Types of Computer Operating System
    • Evolution of Operating System
    • NAS Storage Device
    • Windows Administrator Interview
    • Types of Communication Network
    • What is Automata
    • Types of Mainframe Computers
    • Types of Computer Hardware
    • Types of Sensors
    • What is Server
    • What is RPC
    • What is Microservices
    • Types of Computer Virus
    • Types of Computer Keyboard
    • Types of Motherboard
    • Sensor Device
    • What is Computer Graphic Design
    • Computer Architecture Interview
    • What is Computer Science?
    • What is Bluetooth?
    • What is VLAN?
    • Types of VLAN
    • Types of LAN
    • How does LAN switches work
    • What is VLAN Network?
    • What is Native VLAN?
    • How does LAN Switches work?
    • Switching Modes
    • What is Storage?
    • What is Object Storage?
    • What is Block Storage?
    • Block Level Storage
    • Cordova Local Storage
    • Threads in Operating System
    • What is Gateway?
    • What is Ethernet?
    • What is Virtual Machine?
    • What is a Trunk Port?
    • VPN Applications for Android
    • What is a NAS Drive?
    • What is Ring Topology?
    • Point to Point Topology
    • What is Mesh Topology?
    • Extended Star Topology
    • Token Ring Topology
    • Physical Topology
    • What is a Hybrid Topology?
    • Hybrid Network Topology
    • Star Network Topology
    • Star Bus Topology
    • Zariski Topology
    • Ethernet Topology
    • Logical Topology
    • Partial Mesh Topology
    • Types of Computer Cables
    • Types of Computer Language
    • Features of Operating System
    • Functions of Operating System
    • Multithreading in Operating System
    • Ethernet Frame Format
    • Types of Memory in Computer
    • What is Heap Memory?
    • What is Register?
    • Types of Registers
    • What is Arduino?
    • Arduino Operators
    • What is iSCSI?
    • Computer Science Interview Questions
    • Types of USB Ports
    • What is Port
    • Daisy Chain Network
    • What is a Monitor?
    • What is Printer?
    • Types of Printers
    • What is WPS
    • What is Mouse?
    • Types of Socket
    • Transmission Modes
    • Computers Output Devices
    • Memory Units
    • Secondary Memory
    • What is Memory Card?
    • Types of Memory Cards
    • What is Intranet?
    • Central Processing Unit
    • Computer Ports
    • What is CPU Register
    • Types of CPU
    • Types of Compact Disc
    • Cache Memory Types
    • What is a Motherboard?
    • Types of LED
    • Types of Processor
    • Types of Primary Memory
    • Helpdesk Tool
    • What is Optical Fiber?

Related Courses

Windows 10 Training Course

Java Web Services Training Course

Java Training Course

Footer
About Us
  • Blog
  • Who is EDUCBA?
  • Sign Up
  • Corporate Training
  • Certificate from Top Institutions
  • Contact Us
  • Verifiable Certificate
  • Reviews
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  •  
Apps
  • iPhone & iPad
  • Android
Resources
  • Free Courses
  • Java Tutorials
  • Python Tutorials
  • All Tutorials
Certification Courses
  • All Courses
  • Software Development Course - All in One Bundle
  • Become a Python Developer
  • Java Course
  • Become a Selenium Automation Tester
  • Become an IoT Developer
  • ASP.NET Course
  • VB.NET Course
  • PHP Course

© 2020 - EDUCBA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE CERTIFICATION NAMES ARE THE TRADEMARKS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.

EDUCBA
Free Software Development Course

Web development, programming languages, Software testing & others

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you
Book Your One Instructor : One Learner Free Class

Let’s Get Started

This website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. By closing this banner, scrolling this page, clicking a link or continuing to browse otherwise, you agree to our Privacy Policy

EDUCBA

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you
EDUCBA Login

Forgot Password?

EDUCBA
Free Software Development Course

Web development, programming languages, Software testing & others

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you

Special Offer - All in One Software Development Bundle (600+ Courses, 50+ projects) Learn More