What Is USB? – Definition, Types, And More

Definition USB

One connection for all PC devices … this is the idea behind the USB standard. Surely you will be interested in knowing its main characteristics, how it works, and what types you can find.

As you know, before, there were many different connections on the PC, for example, for the mouse, keyboard, webcam, and printer. With the 1998 introduction of USB (Universal Serial Bus), the PC received a suitable connector for everything.

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Advantages

Convenient: you can connect and disconnect devices without turning off the PC.

Fast: with USB 3.1, data is transferred up to 1,250 MB / s.

As a charger: USB can power or charge devices, such as mobile terminals.

Are there different types of USB?

Yes, there are. Depending on the USB version, there are different transfer speeds. And depending on the device, additional connectors are also used.

These are the USB connectors out there.

Type A: This connector is commonly found on hubs.

Type B: Large devices such as printers or scanners often use this connector.

Mini-USB: The somewhat older compact [USB] devices. For example, digital cameras often have Mini [USB] connectors.

Micro-USB: It is smaller than the Mini [USB] connector and is used mainly in mobile phones.

So will USB 3.1

The new “SuperSpeed ​​USB” standard sends data over cables with up to 1,250 MB / s. Computers with [USB] 3.0 ports will be able to adapt to [USB] 3.1 with firmware updates. However, the first 3.1 devices are announced for the end of 2014. This new version also needs new cables. [USB] 3.1 models will continue to work with “old” devices but at their original speed.

Other connections

Thunderbolt: With up to 1,250 MB / s, Thunderbolt is already as fast as the new [USB] 3.1 standard. At the end of 2013, the latest version 2 is expected, which will transfer data up to 2,500 MB / s. But you can only find this connector in very few laptops, such as the new MacBook. Accessories are very scarce.

eSATA: The SATA connector for internal hard drives also exists as an external eSATA variant, with transfer rates of up to 600MB / s. ESATA connections are not very common.

FireWire: It is a connector for digital video cameras and external hard drives. The current version of FireWire S3200 is somewhat slower (400MB / s) than [USB] 3.0. FireWire only plays a small role in the Mac world today.

USB in figures

Products with [USB] 1.0 technology, developed in 1996, did not hit stores. There are nine wires in [USB] 3.0 cables, five more than in [USB] 2.0. [USB] 3.0 supplies 900 mA of current, [USB] 2.0 only 500 mA.

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