Have you wondered, what does USB stand for? Well the answer is simple: universal serial bus. While that may answer the question, it does little to explain what the term actually means. Let's take a deeper look into USB ports and USB devices.
A Connection Between Your Computer And External Devices
USB is supported by your computer and its external devices, such as printers, cameras and your iPod. In order for your computer to interact with external devices, they need to be connected somehow. Where the devices connect is called a port. Much like a shipping port where goods are exchanged, this port is where information between the computer and the device gets exchanged. Older computers used to connect these devices with serial ports. However, these became inefficient as computers became more complex and incorporated more devices that needed information to be exchanged at a faster pace than a serial port could provide.
USB Flexibility And Efficiency
That's where USB technology came in. USB ports are much smaller, allowing for more ports to be included on the computer. As the term implies, they are universal, meaning they can support a variety of devices. The devices can be swapped out for one another without installing new software. Most devices connect to a computer through a standardized USB cable. They usually have one flat end that connects to the computer and a smaller end that connects to the device. Some devices, such as a USB flash drives, just connect directly to the computer without a wire. Flash drives are like external hard drives that can store information. They are far more efficient than storing information on floppy or hard disks, and the information can be transferred much faster using a USB port.
Because of USB technology, many of today's electronics are easier to use. MP3 players and digital cameras exist because data can be transferred much faster through USB ports than with serial ports, which means it is easier to share and transport larger media files.
