Computer-generated illustrationP001 / USB / Connector form
USB Type-A
A familiar rectangle does not tell you its data rate.
- Shape label
- rectangular
- Common aliases
- USB-A, Type A, USB type A
- Reference depth
- Engineering profile →
Family reference
USB connectors
Separate the physical USB connector from the USB generation, data mode, video transport and charging behavior implemented by a particular product.
11 forms 9 engineering profiles 9 related comparisons
Recognition & reference
Browse the forms
Recognition illustrations are not to scale or fabrication drawings. The label-led symbols below, where present, are not interface geometry. Read the illustration limits in each exact reference; equal image boxes do not establish equal physical sizes.
Jump to a form 11 existing records
Computer-generated illustration
Computer-generated illustrationP002 / USB / Connector form
USB Type-B
Identify the device-side socket before ordering a printer cable.
- Shape label
- square
- Common aliases
- USB-B, printer USB, Type B
- Reference depth
- Engineering profile →
Computer-generated illustrationP003 / USB / Connector form
SuperSpeed USB Type-B
Backward compatibility has a direction.
- Shape label
- stacked
- Common aliases
- USB 3 B, USB 3.0 B, SuperSpeed B
- Reference depth
- Engineering profile →
Computer-generated illustrationP004 / USB / Connector form
USB Type-C
The shape is the beginning of the answer, not the end.
- Shape label
- oval
- Common aliases
- USB-C, USBC, Type C, USB type C
- Reference depth
- Engineering profile →
Computer-generated illustrationP005 / USB / Connector form
Mini-USB Type-B
Mini and Micro are not interchangeable labels.
- Shape label
- trapezoid
- Common aliases
- Mini USB, Mini-B, Mini USB B
- Reference depth
- Engineering profile →
Computer-generated illustrationP006 / USB / Connector form
Micro-USB Type-B
Check for the extra section before calling a connector Micro-B.
- Shape label
- low-profile
- Common aliases
- Micro USB, Micro-B, Micro USB B
- Reference depth
- Engineering profile →
Computer-generated illustrationP007 / USB / Connector form
SuperSpeed Micro-USB Type-B
The full connector is wider than the legacy Micro-B portion.
- Shape label
- split
- Common aliases
- USB 3 Micro B, wide Micro USB, SuperSpeed Micro-B
- Reference depth
- Engineering profile →
Computer-generated illustrationP263 / USB / Connector form
USB 3.0 front-panel 19-pin internal connector
This legacy internal USB header is not the same physical interface as the newer USB-IF Key-A front-panel connector for USB Type-C/front-panel use.
- Shape label
- internal-header
- Common aliases
- USB 3.0 19-pin header, USB 3 front panel header, 19-pin USB header, internal USB 3 header
- Reference depth
- Engineering profile →
Computer-generated illustrationP264 / USB / Connector form
USB 3.1 front-panel Key-A 20-pin header
Key-A is a specific internal mating interface and must not be conflated with the older 19-pin USB 3.0 front-panel header or with external USB Type-A/Type-C connectors.
- Shape label
- internal-header
- Common aliases
- USB Key-A header, USB 3.1 front panel header, 20-pin Key-A, Type-C front panel header
- Reference depth
- Engineering profile →
P370 / USB / Connector form
USB Mini-A plug
A historical connector label does not prove the present-day device role or USB behavior.
- Shape label
- historical-mini
- Common aliases
- Mini-A, USB Mini A
- Reference depth
- Identification record only
P371 / USB / Connector form
USB Mini-AB receptacle
Receptacle identity, exact part construction and device behavior require separate evidence.
- Shape label
- historical-mini
- Common aliases
- Mini-AB, USB Mini AB
- Reference depth
- Identification record only
Reference table11 connector forms · names, shape labels & reference depth
An alternate overview of the same facts shown in the cards. On narrow screens, scroll the table horizontally or read the cards above. Alias lists retain the existing first four entries; the full record has further detail. This is not a dimension, pinout or compatibility table.
| Connector form | Shape | Common aliases | Engineering |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB Type-A | rectangular | USB-A, Type A, USB type A | Engineering profile → |
| USB Type-B | square | USB-B, printer USB, Type B | Engineering profile → |
| SuperSpeed USB Type-B | stacked | USB 3 B, USB 3.0 B, SuperSpeed B | Engineering profile → |
| USB Type-C | oval | USB-C, USBC, Type C, USB type C | Engineering profile → |
| Mini-USB Type-B | trapezoid | Mini USB, Mini-B, Mini USB B | Engineering profile → |
| Micro-USB Type-B | low-profile | Micro USB, Micro-B, Micro USB B | Engineering profile → |
| SuperSpeed Micro-USB Type-B | split | USB 3 Micro B, wide Micro USB, SuperSpeed Micro-B | Engineering profile → |
| USB 3.0 front-panel 19-pin internal connector | internal-header | USB 3.0 19-pin header, USB 3 front panel header, 19-pin USB header, internal USB 3 header | Engineering profile → |
| USB 3.1 front-panel Key-A 20-pin header | internal-header | USB Key-A header, USB 3.1 front panel header, 20-pin Key-A, Type-C front panel header | Engineering profile → |
| USB Mini-A plug | historical-mini | Mini-A, USB Mini A | Identification record only |
| USB Mini-AB receptacle | historical-mini | Mini-AB, USB Mini AB | Identification record only |
Tell them apart
Useful USB comparisons
Related pages may include forms from another family. They explain distinctions, not permission to connect.
USB-C vs Thunderbolt 5One is a connector. The other is a technology that uses it. Compare layers before numbers.↗USB 3.0 19-pin versus USB Key-A 20-pin front-panel headersWhich motherboard front-panel USB header form does the board and case cable specify? Connector-family identity is only the first layer; implementation-specific electrical and protocol requirements still need exact documentation.↗USB-C vs USB 3.2USB-C names the connector. USB 3.2 names data modes and nomenclature; a Type-C port does not prove a particular USB 3.2 mode.↗USB-C vs USB4 version 1USB-C is a physical connector; USB4 is a technology. Confirm the exact device and cable instead of assigning USB4 to every Type-C port.↗USB-C vs Thunderbolt 4Thunderbolt 4 uses the USB-C connector form, but a USB-C-shaped port is not automatically a Thunderbolt 4 port.↗USB-C vs USB Power DeliveryConnector shape and negotiated power are different layers. A USB-C port does not by itself establish a particular USB Power Delivery capability.↗USB Type-B vs SuperSpeed USB Type-BThe taller SuperSpeed Type-B form is physically distinct from legacy Type-B. Compare the complete outline before choosing a cable.↗Mini-USB Type-B vs Micro-USB Type-BMini-B and Micro-B are different connector forms. Similar names do not make their plugs or receptacles interchangeable.↗Micro-USB Type-B vs SuperSpeed Micro-USB Type-BSuperSpeed Micro-B has a wider compound form. Identify the full receptacle shape rather than assuming every Micro-B cable fits every Micro-B-looking port.↗
Similar at first glance
Look-alike groups
Before choosing a reference
USB names and terminology
Resolve abbreviations, informal names and legacy labels without treating an alias as an additional connector identity.
Open USB terminology and aliases →Continue with the evidence
From the form to the task.
A family name is a starting point. Use the exact record and device documentation before choosing cables or planning a connection.