Term of the Moment
integrated circuit
Redirected from: Universal Serial Bus
Definition: USB
(1) See USB drive and USB port.
(2) (Universal Serial Bus) A hardware interface that supports up to 127 peripherals. USB is used to attach keyboards, mice, printers, external storage and mobile devices to the computer. It is also used for charging a wide variety of portable products (see USB power). Governed by the USB Implementers Forum (see USB-IF), USB emerged in the mid-1990s and soon replaced the earlier serial port, parallel port and Apple Desktop Bus.
Hot Swappable Drives
USB devices can be plugged and unplugged while the computer is on. This feature, combined with easy-to-reach ports on every computer, gave rise to the ubiquitous USB drive for transport (a manual "eject" is however required). See USB drive, USB device class, USB OTG, USB switch and USB toy.
Connecting via USB
SuperSpeed Logos
USB Is Often Power Only
(2) (Universal Serial Bus) A hardware interface that supports up to 127 peripherals. USB is used to attach keyboards, mice, printers, external storage and mobile devices to the computer. It is also used for charging a wide variety of portable products (see USB power). Governed by the USB Implementers Forum (see USB-IF), USB emerged in the mid-1990s and soon replaced the earlier serial port, parallel port and Apple Desktop Bus.
Hot Swappable Drives
USB devices can be plugged and unplugged while the computer is on. This feature, combined with easy-to-reach ports on every computer, gave rise to the ubiquitous USB drive for transport (a manual "eject" is however required). See USB drive, USB device class, USB OTG, USB switch and USB toy.
Host sockets are Type A, and peripherals use B, Micro-B, Mini-B, USB-C and Lightning. In time, USB-C is expected to replace A, as well as every other USB connector. Today, some laptops have only USB-C ports, while all other computers have Type A. See USB Type C, USB hub, Mini USB, Micro USB and Lightning connector.
As of USB 4, the nomenclature was simplified so that future SuperSpeed logos show their speed ratings (5, 10, 20, 40) and eventually replace the multiple designations for USB 3.x (see USB 3.2). DisplayPort requires USB-C cables (see USB Type C).
USB 2.0 Data Rate USB 2.0 High Speed 480 Mbps USB 2.0 Full Speed 12 Mbps USB 2.0 Slow Speed 1.5 Mbps USB 3.2 Data Rate Lanes SuperSpeed USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 5 Gbps 1 (a.k.a. USB 3.0) (a.k.a. USB 3.1 Gen 1) SuperSpeed+ USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 10 Gbps 1 (a.k.a. USB 3.1 (a.k.a. USB 3.1 Gen 2) USB 3.2 Gen 1x2** 10 Gbps 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2** 20 Gbps 2 USB 4 40 Gbps 2 ** Dual-lane requires USB-C cables
USB is widely used as a power source for phones, tablets and other devices. This Chromecast streaming stick plugs into the TV's HDMI port but is powered by USB (see Chromecast and USB power). (Image courtesy of Google Inc.)