dataline

Dataline, literally meaning a line that carries data, is a term used in several fields to denote a conduit for digital information. In electronics and data communications, a dataline refers to the physical conductor or pair of conductors that transports data signals between components, modules, or devices. Datalines are characterized by defined electrical properties, such as impedance, termination, and shielding, and may be single-ended or differential. They form part of broader interfaces and buses, and are designed to support specific signaling standards and data rates.

In practice, datalines appear in many contexts. In serial interfaces, data lines include the D+ and D- lines of USB, the serialized data lanes in PCI Express, or the TMDS data pairs in HDMI. In industrial and automotive networks, CAN bus lines or RS-485 data lines carry digital information between controllers and devices. In printed circuit boards and backplanes, data lines are routed with attention to crosstalk and return paths to ensure signal integrity. The term is sometimes used in vendor documentation to describe the data-carrying portion of a connector or interface.

Beyond physical cabling, "dataline" may appear as a brand or product-name in technology catalogs, used by companies for software, data-management, or telecom offerings. Because the term is not tied to a single standard, its precise meaning is context-dependent. Related terms include data line (as a general concept) and data lineage, the tracing of data through transformations and storage in information systems.