Term of the Moment
infrasonic
Definition: parallel port
(1) A hardware interface that transfers one or more bytes simultaneously. See parallel interface.
(2) A socket on a computer used to connect a printer or other device via a parallel interface (eight bits transfer simultaneously). In the past, the parallel port was widely used for printers and other devices but was superseded by USB.
Back to the 1970s
Centronics Data Computer Corporation introduced a parallel port for printers in the 1970s. It was adapted for the IBM PC in 1981 and standardized by the IEEE in 1994 (see IEEE 1284). First appearing on plug-in cards, it was later built into the motherboard. See Centronics interface and parallel printer.
In Transition
(2) A socket on a computer used to connect a printer or other device via a parallel interface (eight bits transfer simultaneously). In the past, the parallel port was widely used for printers and other devices but was superseded by USB.
Back to the 1970s
Centronics Data Computer Corporation introduced a parallel port for printers in the 1970s. It was adapted for the IBM PC in 1981 and standardized by the IEEE in 1994 (see IEEE 1284). First appearing on plug-in cards, it was later built into the motherboard. See Centronics interface and parallel printer.
As USB ports (left) began to proliferate, the parallel and serial ports (right) were included for a while, but eventually gave way entirely to USB.