Embedded Files
We moved!
USB
Definition:
USB stands for Universal Serial Bus and it is an industry standard connector used for the connecting, data transferring and powering of various devices. There are 3 main versions of USB: USB-A, USB-B, and USB-C.
Where it is used
Desktop Computers
Desktop computers would have many USB ports, both in the form of physical ports and pins on the motherboard.
Phones
Nearly every phone has an USB connector. The specific version depends on the use case.
Different types of USB
USB-A
USB-A is most common on desktops and servers. USB-A is still very common in mice, keyboards, and similar items. It serves as the host of the connection. It also has smaller versions that are more fragile.
USB-B
USB-B was the other end of the USB-A cable. Power must go from A to B and data could go both ways. USB-B is found on printers, monitors, and external storage. It serves as the peripheral of the connection. It also has smaller versions that are more fragile (micro USB sucks).
USB-C
USB-C has combined the host and the peripheral into the same connector. USB-C also has the fastest speeds (80 Gbps) and can transmit the most power of the three (up to 240 Watts). Anything that can use USB-A, can be converted to USB-C.
Other connectors based on USB
Lightning
Lightning is a proprietary connector made by Apple in 2012 to be used for their mobile products, such as the iPhone. It is based on USB 2.0, which was released in 2000, and it has a maximum speed of 480 Mbps. At the time that was pretty good but USB 4 has a maximum speed of 80 Gbps. It is unacceptable to have this connector on an over $1000 phone.
Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt is a protocol developed by Apple and Intel. The first two generations used the Mini DisplayPort connector and the current generation uses the USB-C connector. Before the introduction of USB 4, Thunderbolt had the fastest speeds, which was 40 Gbps. It also has PCIe and DisplayPort support, which USB 4 also inherited. While it seems that Thunderbolt has been replaced by USB 4, Thunderbolt is still more stable than USB 4.
Additional Info
Since USB has been out since 1996, it has been updated multiple times. These updates have increased the maximum data transfer speeds and the amount of power that can go through them. Here is a helpful diagram of the data rates and logo based on the generation.
Recommended pages for more Info
Google Sites
Report abuse