Types of Computer Ports

Types of ports in computer

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This article is all about different types of ports mounted on a computer system with their functions and examples also. You just need to read the topic to learn everything related to the computer ports. let’s start reading.

Computer Ports

A port is an interface or point of connectivity. It is used to attach peripheral devices with a computer like printers, keyboards, and mouse, etc. Ports have different types of connectors.

A connector joins a cable to a device. One end of the cable is attached to the connector on the system unit and the other end is attached to the connector on the peripheral device. Different genders of connectors are as follows:

Male Connectors: it has one or more exposed pins like the end of an electrical cord.

Female Connectors: it has matching holes to accept the pins on a male connector like an electrical wall outlet.

The gender changer is a device that is used to join two connectors of same-gender i.e. two male connectors or two female connectors.

Different types of ports are as follows:

Serial Ports

A serial port is used to connect devices to the system unit. A serial port transmits data one bit at a time. It is generally used to connect devices that do not need fast data transmission such as mouse and keyboard etc.

Parallel Ports

A parallel port is used to connect devices that transfer many bits at a time. Printers are connected to a computer using a parallel port.

Universal Serial Bus Port (USB)

Universal serial bus port (USB) can connect up to 127 different peripheral devices with a single connector type. Many computers have one or two USB ports. Multiple devices can be attached to the USB port through the daisy chain.

It means that the first device is attached to the USB port of the computer, the second USB device connects to the first USB device, the third USB device connects to the second USB device, and so on.

An alternate to the daisy chain is the USB hub also. USB hub plugs into the USB port on the system unit. It contains multiple USB ports used to connect many USB devices.

Special Purpose Computer Ports

Some special-purpose ports are as follows:

1394 port

This port is also called FireWire port. It can connect devices such as digital video cameras, digital VCR, color printers, and scanners that require faster data transmission. Furthermore, it can connect up to 63 devices together.

MIDI Port

MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. This port connects the system unit to a musical instrument like an electronic keyboard. A system unit with a MIDI port can also record sounds created by a synthesizer and then process these sounds. Synthesizer is a peripheral or chip that creates sound from digital instructions.

SCSI port

SCSI stands for Small Computer System Interface. It is a special high-speed parallel port to attach SCSI peripheral devices like disk drives and printers. It can connect up to 15 devices using a daisy chain.

IrDA Port

IrDA stands for Infrared Data Association. It is also called fast infrared (FIR). A wireless device can transmit signals to a computer with IrDA ports. Different devices use IrDA ports like keyboards, mice, printers, and digital cameras, etc.

Bluetooth Ports

Bluetooth port is an alternative to IrDA port. It uses radio waves to transmit data between two devices. Bluetooth also enabled devices to communicate with one another without being aligned with one another.

Furthermore, the USB port or serial port can also be converted into a Bluetooth port by using a Bluetooth wireless port adapter.:

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