CompTIA A+ Complete Deluxe Study Guide Recommended Courseware: Exams 220-801 and 220-802, 2nd Edition

Identifying Characteristics of Connectors 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 or peripheral 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.

Device Connector ...