A port is basically a physical docking point which is basically used to connect the external devices to the computer, or we can say that A port act as an interface between the computer and the external devices, e.g., we can connect hard drives, printers to the computer with the help of ports. Features of Computer ports:
- We can connect external devices to the computer with the help of ports and cables.
- These are basically slots on motherboard where we connect external devices, or we can plug in external devices through cables.
- Mouse, keyboards, printers, speakers are some examples of external devices that connected to the computer through ports.
- These are basically used for external modems.
- These are basically available in two versions in market these are 9 pins, 25 pin models.
- Data travels at a speed of 115 kilo-bits per second.
- These are basically used to connect peripherals such as scanners or printers.
- These are also known as printer ports.
- These are available in a 25 pin model.
- Data travels at a speed of 150 kilo bits per second.
- These are basically used by old computers for connecting mouse or keyboard.
- These are called mouse ports.
- These ports are still favoured in organisation for security reason.
- These ports provides no restriction on key rollover.
- Basically it can connect all types of external devices to the computer such as mouse, keyboard, printers, speakers etc.
- These ports were introduced in 1997.
- Minimum 2 ports are there in every computer system.
- Data basically travels at a speed of 14mb/s which is much faster than serial port.
- The devices that uses USB port gets power from a USB port.
- It is used to connect monitor to computer’s video card.
- It is 15 pin connector.
- These were introduced by IBM in 1987.
- VGA basically utilizes analog signal hence it can only be used to lower resolution or we can say VGA is only capable of lowering the resolution.
- Modem Port: These are basically used to connect PC’s modem to telephone networks.
- Ethernet Port: These are basically used to connect Ethernet cables to the computer. In this data may travel with a speed of 10mb/s to 100 mb/s based on the network bandwidth.
- Game Port: These ports are available in computer to connect joysticks which are now replaced by USB.
- Digital Video Interface or we can say DVI Port these are basically used to connect flat panel LCD Monitor to the computer’s high end video graphics.
- Sockets: Sockets are basically used to connect microphone or speakers to the sound card of the computer.
Advantages:
Versatility: Ports allow for the connection of a wide range of devices, making computers more versatile and adaptable to different needs.
Accessibility: Ports are usually located on the exterior of the computer, making it easy to connect or disconnect devices without having to open up the computer case.
Expandability: Additional ports can be added to a computer through expansion cards, allowing for even more devices to be connected.
Speed: Some ports, such as USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt, offer fast data transfer speeds, allowing for quick transfer of large files.
Disadvantages:
Limited number: Most computers have a limited number of ports, which can make it difficult to connect multiple devices simultaneously.
Compatibility issues: Some devices may not be compatible with certain ports or may require adapters to connect to the computer.
Physical size: Some ports, such as HDMI and DisplayPort, require large physical connectors that can be difficult to manage in small spaces.
Security risks: Ports can be used to introduce viruses or malware to a computer, especially if connected to untrusted devices.
Power limitations: Some devices may require more power than a port can provide, which can cause problems or limit the performance of the device.