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IT Support & Hardware · Foundational

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

The standard interface for connecting peripherals, storage, and charging to computers and mobile devices.

Definition

USB versions include USB 2.0 (480 Mb/s), USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gb/s), Gen 2 (10 Gb/s), Gen 2x2 (20 Gb/s), and USB4 (40 or 80 Gb/s). Connectors include Type-A, Type-B, Micro-B, and Type-C. USB supports hot-plugging and provides power to devices.

Example

A USB 3.2 Gen 2 external SSD reaches about 1 GB/s on a 10 Gb/s port.

Exam tip

Port color hints: blue often indicates USB 3.x; speed depends on the lowest common version.

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