What Does It Imply When A USB Port Is Blue?

The USB, or Common Serial Bus, is a typical kind of connector or port that has been an integral a part of our lives for a few years. Most computing units or peripherals we use, like our keyboards and mice, depend on USB for his or her information or energy wants. Whereas the newer USB Type-C port is more and more changing into extra frequent, the legacy USB ports, akin to USB Kind-A and USB Kind-B, stay prevalent and are unlikely to vanish anytime quickly.

One of many distinctive options of the unique USB-A ports that you just will not discover within the trendy USB-C port is the coloured plastic insert. It is major objective is to offer help to the steel contacts and implement right orientation. Nevertheless, it additionally serves one other essential function, significantly in USB Kind-A and Kind-B ports; its colour helps decide the velocity class, energy capabilities, or different particular capabilities of the USB port. The commonest colours discovered on a USB port’s plastic insert are black and blue, however some USB ports additionally use teal, white, purple, purple, and yellow to indicate their capabilities.

The presence of a blue plastic insert in a USB connector or port signifies that it helps USB 3.0, often known as SuperSpeed USB, USB 5Gbps, or USB 3.2 Gen 1. USB 3.0 was launched in November 2008 and helps information switch speeds of as much as 5 Gbps and energy supply of 900 mA. USB 3.0 connectors and ports, like different USB variations, are additionally backward suitable.

Though the blue colour is usually used on USB 3.0–suitable ports, it, like different USB colours, is barely a suggestion — it is not necessary as per the USB specification. In consequence, it is fairly attainable so that you can encounter USB ports with model 3.0 however that includes a black insert, merely bearing the SuperSpeed USB brand (“SS” with a trident image) for identification. An excellent instance of that is the HP Omen 25L gaming desktop, which homes two SuperSpeed USB ports on prime with black plastic inserts as an alternative of blue.

So, whereas USB port colour is an efficient indicator of its capabilities, you’ll be able to’t blindly depend on it. It is best to seek the advice of the producer’s documentation or any accompanying logos.