Like other technological components, USB ports have also evolved over time. The most used currently is USB-C, but there are several types of USB that have been known over the years.
History of USB ports
Between the late 80s and early 90s, there were a large number of connectors without compatibility between them. This posed a problem for users, which is why several technology companies of the time came together to unify the way of connecting peripherals to their computers.
Thus, in 1996 the USB or “Universal Serial Bus”, which in Spanish would be Universal Series Bus. That is, a connection standard and electrical and data transmission between two devices.
It was in 1998 when it began to be used massively. Since then, the vast majority of devices have this type of connectors (keyboards, mice, printers, USB memories…), used from exchanging data to charging device batteries.
The four generations of USB standards
In addition to being classified by type, USBs must be distinguished by the standard, which varies depending on the speed with which data can be transferred. In this way, the standards are divided into four generations:
-First generation. It includes USB 1.0, USB 1.1. and USB 1.2. The highest transfer speed achieved with them was 1.5 Mbps.
-Second generation. It was called the “high-speed generation” thanks to USB 2.0, which reached transfers of up to 480 Mbps.
-Third generation. It includes several updates: USB 3.0, USB 3.1, USB 3.2. Its maximum speeds range from 5 Gbps to 20 Gbps.
-Fourth generation. It was presented in 2019 and has a data transfer that ranges from 20 Gbps to 40 Gbps, it is the most current generation.
Types of USB connectors
Regarding the types of connectors, these are the best known types:
-USB-A: It was the first to appear and has been the most predominant connector. That’s why it’s probably the one you’ll find most “familiar.” It has a rectangular shape and is the most used to connect peripherals to the computer, for example.
-USB-B: Especially used to connect printers or professional cameras, but in general only to provide power. Its shape is rectangular or square.
-USB-C: It is the most modern and used today. Many manufacturers have had to adapt and, in fact, there is already a schedule for the arrival of USB-C universally. The most characteristic thing is that it is reversible and it is possible to connect it from both sides. Additionally, it allows for faster data transfer speeds.
-Mini USB: Used to connect MP3 players or some digital cameras. It was the first to reduce its size to be able to connect with smaller devices.
-Micro USB: Its shape is similar to a trapezoid and it is the successor to the Mini USB. It has been commonly used to connect devices such as mobile phones, e-books or tablets.
