USB cables are a type of computer data-transfer cable. They are used to connect peripheral devices, like MP3 players, to computers. Data is transferred through the cable as the computer and peripheral communicate with each other. There are a number of different types of USB connectors, which vary from device to device and between manufacturers.
Type A USB connector
A Type-A connector is the standard USB connector. It is a flat connector that usually plugs into the port on the computer.
Type B USB connector
Type-B connectors are six-sided connectors that are square on the bottom and slightly slanted on top. These are used for larger devices, like printers and scanners.
Type A USB connector A Type-A connector is the standard USB connector. It is a flat connector that usually plugs into the port on the computer.
Type B USB connector Type-B connectors are six-sided connectors that are square on the bottom and slightly slanted on top. These are used for larger devices, like printers and scanners.
Mini Mini connectors are small versions of the Type-A and Type-B connectors. The Mini-A standard is not as commonly used as the Mini-B, but both are common on digital cameras and MP3 players.
Micro The Micro-A is the smallest version of Type-A, and a Micro-B is an inverted and flattened Type-B connector. These are popular on cell phones and PDAs.
Proprietary Many manufacturers have developed proprietary USB connectors, such as those on the Apple iPod. These are usually product-specific.