USB Explained

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a standard that allows devices like computers, phones, and accessories to connect, transfer data, and deliver power. Introduced in the mid-1990s by companies like Intel and Microsoft, USB replaced a wide range of older ports with a single, plug-and-play interface.

The early versions, USB 1.1 (1998) and USB 2.0 (2000), offered basic speeds and powered peripherals like keyboards and flash drives. With USB 3.0 and beyond, speeds jumped to 5-40 GBps (Gigabytes per Second), and USB-C was introduced — a small, reversible connector that supports fast data, high power, and even video output. Today, USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 offer cutting-edge performance and broad compatibility.

Over the years, USB has evolved through multiple versions and connector types, leading to some confusion. To help, here’s a simple comparison table showing all major USB versions, their host/device connectors, speed, power, and compatibility: