CompTIA A+® Complete Deluxe Study Guide:Exams 220-701 (Essentials) and 220-702 (Practical Application)

1.4. Identifying Characteristics of Ports and Cables

Now that you've learned the various types of items found in a computer, let's discuss the various types of ports and cables used with computers. A port is a generic name for any connector on a computer into which a cable can be plugged. A cable is simply a way of connecting a peripheral or other device to a computer using multiple copper or fiber-optic conductors inside a common wrapping or sheath. Typically, cables connect two ports: one on the computer and one on some other device.

Let's take a quick look at some of the different styles of port connector types as well as peripheral port and cable types. We'll begin by looking at peripheral port connector types.

1.4.1. Peripheral Port Connector ...