# Why does USB-B exist? (computer cable) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 26, 2026, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930 "2026-07-26T13:01:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2026, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930/61 "2026-07-27T14:04:11Z")
Amazon listings are crowded with various Chinese brand names that you’ve never heard of prior. I tend to avoid those in favor of well-known Western brands or at least established Chinese brands like Anker. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2026, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930/62 "2026-07-27T14:21:09Z")
Linus Tech Tips recently put out a brand of “true spec” cables where they guarantee the data and power delivery (and clearly tell you what delivers what and changes based on length). A bit pricey though. > **[LTT TrueSpec Cables](https://www.lttstore.com/collections/ltt-truespec-cables)** > > Shop LTT TrueSpec USB-C to C cables up to 40Gbps and USB-A to C cables up to 10Gbps, with real labeled speeds and multiple length options for clean setups. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2026, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930/63 "2026-07-27T14:51:13Z")
Can you share the model of the webcam that takes a USB-A connection? As I mention, I’ve never seen a peripheral that needs a USB-A-\>A connection, and I’ve never seen that kind of cable in the wild. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2026, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930/64 "2026-07-27T15:32:42Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > > [@DETXL](#): > > > > always look for the [arcane symbols painted on the port](https://www.kensington.com/news/docking-connectivity-blog/usb-c-demystified/) to know if it will supply high current or if it will sic a guard dog on you. > > Thank you for this~I stashed it in my Google Keep for future reference. Note one of the final lines in the article: “some manufacturers prefer to leave off these symbols entirely” That’s pretty much my experience. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2026, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930/65 "2026-07-27T15:35:15Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > . Then I got to a review that said the bundled software turned off the anti-virus… Bundled software with a cable! Now that’s a red flag. How can you tell the real reviews from the fake ones? ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2026, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930/66 "2026-07-27T16:13:53Z")
For disentangling USB-C cables, whatcable is great, and is the best argument I know to buy an Apple Silicon Mac. All computers with USB-C ports negotiate with the cable and the device at the other end. On most computers that information is not even exposed to the operating system, let alone to user space. Apple Silicon Macs makes it available, and whatcable puts it in a nice table for the user to see. I had a pile of USB-C cables, and using a Thunderbolt NVME drive carrier, and a 100W charger I went through and classified all of my cables. Now I have the cables all in different bins so I know where to get ones for low-wattage charging (phone, tablet, etc.), high-wattage charging (laptops, battery packs), data transfer (USB 3.2 or better), and Thunderbolt (PCIe). There are little devices that you can plugin to tell you this information, but they come from the same kind of websites that sell cables labeled “240W” but are only willing to run at 65W. Apple spends enough money building their computers that mostly they get it right (let’s not talk about keyboards). > **[GitHub - darrylmorley/whatcable: macOS menu bar app that tells you, in plain...](https://github.com/darrylmorley/whatcable)** > > macOS menu bar app that tells you, in plain English, what each USB-C cable plugged into your Mac can actually do ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2026, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930/67 "2026-07-27T17:57:16Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Bundled software with a cable! Now that’s a red flag. For this particular case a USB-A to HDMI cable has a controller built-in and needs software on the PC to drive it. > [@puzzlegal](#): > > How can you tell the real reviews from the fake ones? To be fair, I technically can’t and am sure I was biased. But as an example: For one cable there were only a handful of reviews. The good ones had sales points in them and some grammar errors. I clicked on one of the users and their other reviews had the same title for several. All of these things could be real reviews and real reviews, but considering the cable is not possible, I’m not sure how they had such a positive experience. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2026, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930/68 "2026-07-27T17:58:32Z")
> [@DETXL](#): > > It is complicated enough to, for example, allow Nintendo to overload the negotiation protocols and prevent non-Nintendo docks and power cables from working with the Switch. Or, more relevantly: USB-C is supposed to be symmetrical. It is not. I haven’t had problems using non-Nintendo quality USB cables and wall warts (mostly Anker, which as noted above is Chinese but with substantial US presence and usually good) with the Switch. Switch 2 may be different. There’s an issue where [cheap USB-C devices lack the pull down resistors required to power them with C to C](https://plugable.com/blogs/news/understanding-usb-c-charging-issues) but charge fine with USB-A (wall) to USB-C (device). > [@LSLGuy](#): > > Huh? > > Click the magnifying glass. Click the [in this topic] button. Type “suicide”. See posts 21, 48, 51, and 55 pop up. > > And now this one, 57. Look, I get it’s a “me” problem, and SDMB uses the platform because it’s easy and probably cheap. But I shouldn’t have to click, type, and then click a specific link again (Enter searches every thread not the current one). Ctrl+F worked in the past, or even hitting End several times to load all posts first (why?). That’s better than earlier on you have to Ctrl+F twice to skip the platform taking over the browser. But now apparently that doesn’t work, I will try to recalibrate but muscle memory is a bitch. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930/69 "2026-07-28T08:32:26Z")
I have a Technika KR07 digital photo frame with a USB-A socket… ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930/70 "2026-07-28T08:44:48Z")
Right, but it acts as a USB host. It also has a Micro USB, for when it acts as a peripheral, I imagine. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930/71 "2026-07-28T08:48:30Z")
Oh yes, it does. I never even noticed that ! ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930/72 "2026-07-28T08:55:45Z")
Actually, it’s a mini USB - my mistake. Point stands, though. You probably plug in USB memory sticks or drives to the USB A, where it acts as a host. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930/73 "2026-07-28T09:02:38Z")
Probably ! It was actually my mum’s… all the pics were on SD cards.. (Probably a good thing that I couldn’t find a USB-A → USB-A cable …!!) ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930/74 "2026-07-28T09:15:05Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > (Probably a good thing that I couldn’t find a USB-A → USB-A cable …!!) Haha! Definitely. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930/75 "2026-07-28T10:59:21Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > It might help to understand that USB was never intended as a universal 5V power cord in the way it is used now, and the non-standard usages you describe are not how it was originally intended to be used. What does the “U” in USB stand for? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930/76 "2026-07-28T11:21:47Z")
How about all three letters? Universal Serial Bus. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930/77 "2026-07-28T12:43:02Z")
Yeah, USB was meant as a universal data-transfer cord, but initially, providing power was just an afterthought, and it only provided as much power as a keyboard or similar peripheral would need. Using it as the standard way of providing power to everything, even things that don’t transfer data, came much later. Remember how when Return of the Jedi came out, and everyone said it was so absurd that R2D2 could accidentally plug into a power outlet instead of a data outlet, because of course those would use two different kinds of socket? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930/78 "2026-07-28T13:32:30Z")
What does the first letter in the acronym for Universal Lock Picking Device stand for? And given that it’s the word “Universal”, why is it that my ULPD is not very good at mashing potatoes? ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930/79 "2026-07-28T13:39:06Z")
The only purpose I’ve ever observed for the USB-B connector was to provide a direct physical connection between a printer and a computer. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930/80 "2026-07-28T13:50:30Z")
OK, but it also was commonly used for external drives and is still currently used for musical equipment. I’m sure there were other uses, but those are the ones that I personally saw. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930.md?page=5)