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ABCS OF USB

USB, or Universal Serial Bus, is the most common way to connect devices to computers. Because it allows for many computer peripherals to be connected using a standardized form factor, USB quickly gained popularity. Over the course of USB’s evolution, it has been implemented through multiple iterations and form factors.

The most common form factor of USB is type A. This is the type of connection you would see on the back of your computer.  USB type B is commonly used to connect printers to computers. Cellphones are commonly found with a micro USB type B connection. Usually, these connections have a single orientation, allowing only one way to connect devices to machines.

The first release of USB is known as USB 1.0, or Low Bandwidth, was released in 1996. Common iterations of USB that we see in computers today are 2.0 and 3.0, known as High Speed and SuperSpeed, respectively. The most recent iteration of USB is 3.1, or SuperSpeed+, whose speed reaches 10 Gbits/s. USB 3.1 devices are compatible with computers that have older USB ports, but connect at the slower speeds.

USB type C was developed alongside USB 3.1. USB type C is considered a completely different technology. The most obvious difference between USB type A and USB type C is the form factor. USB C does not have an up or down orientation, it can be connected either way. Another feature that makes USB type C unique is, in addition to carrying power and data, it natively carries video and audio signals as well. USB 1, 2, and 3 devices will work with USB type C port with the correct connectors.

USB continues to be a popular technology for connecting peripherals to computers because of its versatility. It has evolved from a slow simple technology to a fast universal technology. The introduction of USB 3.1 and USB type C further reinforces the universal acceptance of USB.

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