MCQ Detailed View

In computer hardware, the abbreviation USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. It is a widely used standard that defines cables, connectors, and communication protocols used to connect and power devices such as computers, printers, flash drives, smartphones, cameras, and other peripherals.

The word Universal signifies that the standard is designed to support a wide range of devices, making it highly compatible across different manufacturers and platforms. Serial refers to the method of data transmission — data is sent one bit at a time, which simplifies the design and improves reliability. Bus is a technical term for a communication system that transfers data between components within a computer or between computers and external devices.

USB was first introduced in the mid-1990s and quickly became the industry standard because of its plug-and-play capability and support for hot-swapping (connecting and disconnecting devices without restarting the computer). Over the years, it has evolved into faster and more powerful versions such as USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB-C, and USB4.