USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. The standard was invented to come up with one way to connect devices to computers instead of each type of device requiring a different type of port. USB connections are capable of not only transferring data, but powering and charging devices.
USB 1, 2, and 3 connections look pretty much identical externally. If you look closely, though, the color of plastic visible inside the device lets you know which generation it is.
USB 1 is usually white, 2 is black, 3 is blue.
USB 1 made its appearance 23 years ago followed by USB 2 in 2000. USB 2 is 40 times faster than USB 1. USB 2 devices were backward compatible with USB 1 ports, but you didn’t get the same speed.
USB 3 and then 3.1 in 2014, and 3.2 in 2017. To compare speed rates, USB 1 has a transfer rate of 480 Mb per second while USB 3.2 can transfer up to 20 GB per second. USB 3 is also capable of powering larger devices.
You can use a USB 3 device in a USB 3 port and a USB 2 device in a USB 3 port, but you won’t see the speed increase unless both devices are USB 3.
USB ports in your PC or plug are normally the type A connector that you see on a standard flash drive. The plugs on the other ends of cables have come in a variety of shapes over the years to fit cameras, printers, phones, and other peripherals. Mini-A, Mini-B, and Micro-A have fallen by the wayside with USB 3. You’ll normally see an A connection, the squarish B connection that often connects to audio devices and printers, and the Micro-B which is usually for phones and other small devices.
With USB 3.1 and 3.2, came the now ubiquitous USB C connection.This cable was an attempt to standardize the connections for all devices. USB C cables can transmit large quantities of data and are also capable of transmitting enough power to charge a laptop, doing away with the need for proprietary charging plugs. USB is compatible with USB 3.0 ports. In many ways, USB C is attempting to do what USB was created for in the first place, come up with a truly universal port and plug.
USB 4 was announced in 2019 and works with the USB C connector. USB 4 offers up to up to 80 Gbps operation and much faster charging.
Well done, Cyn! This really brings me up to speed on connectors, and will make evaluation of a new computer much more thorough. I appreciate what you do!