DB25

DB-25 is a D-subminiature connector that carries 25 electrical contacts arranged in two staggered rows. The designation DB-25 denotes the shell size (D-sub) and the number of pins (25); the arrangement typically consists of 13 positions on the upper row and 12 on the lower row. The connector is housed in a metal shell and mates with a corresponding 25-pin receptacle.

Historically, DB-25 connectors were widely used in data communications and computer peripherals. They were the standard interface for RS-232 serial ports on many personal computers and industrial equipment, offering multiple signal lines in a single connector. The same form factor also appeared in older parallel printer interfaces and in some early external interfaces for SCSI-1, making the DB-25 a versatile multi-signal connector in legacy systems. While still encountered in legacy equipment, DB-25 usage has diminished in favor of smaller connectors and modern serial standards.

DB-25 connectors are available in male (pins) and female (sockets) genders. Cables and chassis connections are designed to match the gender and the device’s signaling standard, and pinouts vary with the specific application and whether the device is acting as a data terminal equipment (DTE) or data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE). Outside of legacy contexts, new designs typically use more compact interfaces, but DB-25 remains encountered in some industrial, scientific, and test environments.