Data cables are everywhere. If you’ve ever needed to charge anything, from smartphones to tablets, to cameras and even new laptops, you’ve likely needed to use one. However, data cables come in different shapes and sizes despite the fact a lot of them do the same things. In this short and handy guide, we’ll take a look at all the different types of data cables available on the market and give you some examples where you might find them in use.

Data Type-A

Data Type-A connectors are extremely common and will likely be at one end of a lot of data cables nowadays. You can connect various devices such as smartphones, cameras, keyboards, and more to computers to transfer data, or plug into wall chargers to charge these gadgets with a Type-A port.

Data Type-B

This was the standard for various devices a while back but was quickly replaced by the micro-data connector mentioned below. You’ll find it on older models of various gadgets especially cameras, MP3 players, and game controllers, among others. As its name suggests, it’s smaller than a regular data, but larger when compared to its successor.

Micro-Data

The micro-data connector is very small and it let manufacturers produce slimmer devices. Micro-data was widely adopted but is quickly being left behind. That said, some ultra-affordable smartphones even now come with micro-data ports. You might find micro-data ports on certain accessories like Bluetooth speakers, wireless earphones, smartwatch charging stands, and more as well.

Data-C

Data-C, previously known as data Type-C, is the latest king of the hill. You will find it on most new devices, and it offers faster data transfer rates than previous data versions. The biggest advantage of data-C is that it’s reversible and can be plugged in either up or down. It has become the new standard for mobile devices. Universal adoption is still a little ways away, but it’s never been closer than with data-C.

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