USBliitäntöjä

USBliitäntöjä, often referred to as USB ports, are a ubiquitous standard for connecting peripherals to computers and other electronic devices. USB, which stands for Universal Serial Bus, was designed to simplify device connectivity by providing a single, standardized interface for a wide range of devices including keyboards, mice, printers, external hard drives, and digital cameras. This eliminates the need for multiple, specialized connectors.

Over the years, USB has evolved through several generations, each offering increased speed and power delivery. USB 1.0, introduced in 1996, offered speeds of up to 12 Mbps. USB 2.0, released in 2000, significantly increased speeds to 480 Mbps. The subsequent USB 3.0 (later renamed USB 3.1 Gen 1 and then USB 3.2 Gen 1) brought speeds of 5 Gbps. USB 3.1 (later USB 3.2 Gen 2) offered 10 Gbps, and USB 3.2 (later USB 3.2 Gen 2x2) achieved 20 Gbps. The latest iteration, USB4, supports speeds of up to 40 Gbps and is backward compatible with Thunderbolt 3.

USB ports also provide power to connected devices, allowing for charging of smartphones, tablets, and other portable electronics without the need for separate power adapters. The amount of power that can be delivered has also increased with each USB generation. Different connector types exist, such as Type-A, Type-B, Mini-USB, Micro-USB, and the reversible Type-C connector, with Type-C becoming increasingly prevalent due to its versatility and symmetrical design.