Understanding Computer Ports and Connectors

Front

What is a port in the context of a computer?

Back

A port is a connector on a motherboard or a separate adapter that allows a device to connect to a computer.

Front

What are the two types of port connections?

Back

Male and female.

Front

What is a D-shell connector?

Back

A D-shell connector (or D-sub) has more pins or holes on top than on the bottom, allowing it to be inserted in only one direction.

Front

What does DB stand for in D-shell connectors?

Back

DB stands for the letters used to represent a D-shell connector, followed by a hyphen and the number of pins (e.g., DB-9, DB-15).

Front

What is a mini-DIN connector?

Back

A mini-DIN connector is round, has 6 small holes, and is normally keyed, allowing a cable to be inserted only one way.

Front

What are PS/2 ports?

Back

PS/2 ports are mini-DIN connectors used for connecting keyboards and mice.

Front

What are the most common video ports used today?

Back

VGA, DVI, DisplayPort, and HDMI.

Front

What is the purpose of a video port?

Back

A video port is used to connect a display to a computer.

Front

What is the difference between analog and digital video signals?

Back

Analog signals vary continuously, while digital signals use discrete values (1s and 0s).

Front

What is VGA?

Back

VGA (Video Graphics Array) is a port designed for analog output to a CRT monitor.