If you use a computer nowadays, you probably use ports and peripherals all the time. If you have a new model computer, though, you may not have ports at all, but USB.
What are these things, anyway? Here’s a simple explanation:
PERIPHERALS
Peripherals are external and optional devices that you add to your computer to make it easier or more fun to use. Peripherals DO NOT include devices that are absolutely necessary for your computer to work, like the monitor. Some common peripherals are:
- Mouse/trackball
- Joystick
- Modem
- Webcam
- Flashdrive
- Floppy disk drives
- CD-ROM
- Microphone/headset
- Speakers
- Printer
- Scanner
PORTS
Ports are the little holes where you plug in your peripherals. You can find them at the back of your laptop or CPU (the big box part of your PC that contains your CD-ROM and hard drive).
Ports have different shapes and sizes. A few of them are:
- A rectangular hole with holes or pins, where you plug in your keyboard
- Another rectangular hole with holes or pins for your printer
- Small, round holes for plugging in your speakers and headset
- Small, squarish holes where a phone jack fits, for your modem
- A small, rectangular hole for your mouse
- A black pentagon for the main plug/ electric supply
USB (Universal Serial Bus)
The Universal Serial Bus was introduced to standardize ports into just two shapes: a small rectangular plug or a small, squarish plug. They have no rows of pins or holes.
Unlike ports, which have differently-shaped holes for different peripherals, USB has only one kind of hole for all peripherals. A new model computer usually has at least two USBs where you can plug in your USB mouse and USB keyboard. If there is an extra USB, you can use it to plug in your flashdrive, digital camera, or webcam. All these USB devices can fit into the same USB hole.
