A USB cable is a connector that can link different elements using the Universal Serial Bus.
The USB cable is a connector that allows different elements to be linked through the Universal Serial Bus . This interface was created in the second half of the 1990s by various companies , such as Microsoft , Intel , IBM and NEC , to make their devices compatible.
It should be noted that a cable is a cord that is made up of different conductors, which are insulated from each other, and which is covered by a covering for protection. USB , on the other hand, is the acronym for Universal Serial Bus : a standard that, in the field of computing, establishes the protocols and connectors used on a bus to connect devices.
Its uses
On a computer that has USB ports , it is possible to connect all types of peripherals: from a keyboard to a mouse, including a printer, a scanner, speakers or a game controller (gamepad). You can even connect external hard drives, TV tuning cards and other devices.
Suppose we want to copy the photographs we took with a digital camera to our computer. For this we must have a USB cable that at one end has the necessary connector to plug into the camera. Cameras generally already come with this cable included. Therefore, we need to connect one end of the cable to the camera and the other to the USB port of the computer. It is likely that the computer will recognize this connection automatically and offer us the possibility of copying the images in question.
In addition to data transfer, the USB cable serves to power devices with electricity, either to charge their batteries or simply to allow them to function. Nowadays, it is very common for monitors to have one or more USB inputs so that the user can charge phones and tablets comfortably by plugging them directly there, instead of the computer tower, which is usually in a less accessible place.
Although one of the principles of the USB standard is the simplification of connections, the interests of hardware manufacturers and the desire of many companies to stand out from the competition at any price have led to the creation of too many types of connectors. , to the point of generating confusion for less expert consumers. "To connect this graphics tablet do I need a "micro" or "mini" USB cable? Also, is it type A or B? are common questions.
There are different types of USB cables.
USB cable types
Let's look at the most common types of USB cables :
- Type A : this is the most used. In fact, it is the one we usually find in the entrances of computers, both desktop and laptop computers. When we say USB in everyday speech, we usually think of this type of connector.
- Type B – has a square connector and used to be used on most printer models, although it is no longer as common these days.
- Type C : it is widely used today. Compared to its predecessors, it offers a higher data transmission speed and is also capable of transferring more electrical energy. Most of the successful devices of recent times have adopted this type of USB connector, including the Nintendo Switch console, which uses it to charge its battery and transmit image and sound to the television, all through a USB cable. very thin
- Mini USB – Before the rise of the USB C cable, this was the most common type on mobile phones and digital cameras.
- Micro USB : It is still used to charge certain mobile phones, especially mid-range and low-end ones.