30pin

30pin refers to the 30-pin Dock Connector, a proprietary interface used by Apple for iPod, iPhone, and iPad devices before 2012. It served as a multi-purpose port for charging, data transfer, and accessory communication, and was widely used across several generations of Apple hardware.

Physically, the connector is a wide, flat plug with 30 pins arranged in two rows within a rectangular housing. It supported power delivery, USB or FireWire data connections, analog and digital audio outputs through compatible cables, and various accessory protocols. Over its lifespan, it enabled charging docks, syncing with computers, and audio/video output via specific cable configurations. The data standard evolved with different device generations, but the common 30-pin form remained consistent in hardware design.

The 30-pin connector was gradually phased out in favor of the Lightning connector, introduced with the iPhone 5 in 2012 and accompanying newer iPad models. Apple and third-party manufacturers offered adapters and docks to bridge the transition, and some legacy accessories remained in use for years through adapters. Today, the 30-pin dock is primarily of historical and compatibility interest, with most modern Apple devices and ecosystems relying on the Lightning or USB-C interfaces.