USB (Universal Serial Bus)
Universal Serial Bus
A standard communication protocol for connecting peripheral devices to a computer.
In Simple Terms
USB is the standard system for connecting devices like mice and keyboards to a computer. Plug something in and it's ready to use instantly — it's also widely used for charging smartphones and transferring data. A single port can support multiple devices at once, and power is delivered alongside data. The standard is built into far more than computers: game consoles, TVs, and other home electronics all share it too.
Behind the Name
USB stands for 'Universal Serial Bus.' 'Universal' means 'common everywhere,' 'Serial' means 'arranged in a single line,' and 'Bus' means 'pathway.' The name was chosen with the vision of turning what had once been a tangle of device-specific connectors into one common pathway that works the same way for every device.
Take a Closer Look!
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a communication standard for connecting a computer to peripheral devices such as mice, keyboards, and printers via cable.
Before USB, different types of devices required different connector shapes — USB was created to consolidate them all into a single standard.
USB comes in several connector types, including the flat, rectangular Type-A and the reversible Type-C, which can be inserted either way up.
A defining feature is plug-and-play: devices are ready to use the moment they're connected, and you can plug and unplug them while the computer is still running.
USB carries not just data but electrical power as well.
This makes it possible to charge smartphones or run small powered devices — like a USB fan — without needing a wall outlet.
Transfer speeds vary by USB version, but the standard is widely used for moving large files such as high-resolution video.