Printable reference · P11F01
USB: form, modes and markings
Identify the form first. Establish data, power and video separately from the exact port, cable and device documentation.
Reference revision 2 · Assessed 2026-10-22. AI-assisted source reference; no independent review or hardware validation.
What does this USB connector or cable label actually establish?
| Clue or question | Supported distinction | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| USB-A / USB-C | Type-A has a rectangular mating profile; Type-C is reversible. Neither outer form establishes a data rate. | S002 S003 |
| Mini-B / Micro-B | These are distinct legacy forms. Check the actual mating face; neither name is a synonym for the other. | S001 |
| Power / data markings | USB-IF guidance separates power-capability and data-rate markings. A power-only mark on a USB 2.0 Type-C cable is not evidence of a faster data rate. | S511 S643 |
| USB-C video | Look for documented DisplayPort Alt Mode or the exact supported display transport on that port. An absent logo is inconclusive. | S003 S015 |
| Certification | Use the exact product and official lookup/date filters. A certified cable does not add capabilities to a host or device. | S040 S008 S442 S643 |
Check the complete task
- Record exact source/device model and the particular port. A successful charge does not demonstrate a video or data mode.
- Write the required data rate, charging need and display mode as separate requirements. Match the complete cable/accessory path.
- Read manufacturer and USB-IF marking context; do not infer a capability from insert color, connector outline or a retailer title.
Text and conceptual comparisons only. No specimen photographs, contact-position diagrams, measured geometry or actual-size templates.
Official verification resources
- USB-IF Product Search
Search the exact product. The public list defaults to the last two years; use its date filter when appropriate. Absence is a manufacturer enquiry, not a declaration that a product is unsafe or unsupported.
These links and a picture do not establish an individual product's certification.
Keep an evidence note
- Source model + exact port
- Cable model + observed marking
- Required data / power / video
- Missing evidence + next source
Sources and exact scope
- S003 · USB-IF · USB Type-C language guidelines, March 2023
USB Type-C is not USB performance; USB 2.0 Type-C cables section · Recorded inspection 2026-10-01. Shape/performance distinction and absence of high-speed lanes in USB 2.0 Type-C cables. Not a mechanical specification or permission to use USB logos.
- S511 · USB-IF · USB-IF — January 2026 USB Type-C cable logo guidance
PDF pages 2, 4 and 5 (1-based); compliance markings, power/data separation and logo restrictions · Recorded inspection 2026-10-11. Compliance-program scope only; a marking alone does not authenticate a cable. PDF pages visually inspected. No logos copied. Compliance-program scope only; a marking alone does not authenticate a cable. PDF pages visually inspected. No logos copied. Retrieval locators and observations retained; raw acquisition is recorded separately.
- S643 · USB Implementers Forum · USB-IF cable certification scope and USB-C cable marking
Cables and Connectors; introductory certification paragraphs and USB-C to USB-C Cable Logo Requirements · Recorded inspection 2026-10-15. USB-IF cable-program requirements and cable-label limitations; not product verification or permission to reproduce marks All USB-C cables do not have identical functional capability; the web page may change. Compliance language is distinct from a certification for an arbitrary cable.
- S015 · VESA · DisplayPort FAQ
DP 2.1b requirements; how to know device features; DisplayPort over USB-C · Recorded inspection 2026-10-01. Version labels do not require the maximum UHBR rate. Check documented device capabilities.
- S442 · USB Implementers Forum · USB-IF public Product Search: scope and date filter
Public introduction and date-filter notes; no authenticated Integrators List or individual product result inspected. · Recorded inspection 2026-10-08. Public listing is member-maintained, limited to certified products, and defaults to the last two years. A missing default result does not establish an uncertified product. No exact cable certification lookup performed. Older listings may not meet current program requirements; no certification approval is assigned here.
- S001 · C2G / Legrand · USB connector guide
USB A-Type; B-Type; Mini-B; Micro-B; USB 3.0 B-Type and Micro-B sections · Recorded inspection 2026-10-01. Connector identification and legacy mating distinctions only. Older capability descriptions elsewhere on this page are not used as current universal limits.
- S002 · Cable Matters · USB connector cable types
USB-A, USB-B and USB-C sections · Recorded inspection 2026-10-01. Narrow physical identification. Do not infer video, power or backward compatibility from this broad guide.
- S040 · USB-IF · USB Type-C cable logo usage guidelines, January 2026
USB 2.0 Type-C cables and power marking · Recorded inspection 2026-10-01. USB 2.0 data capability is distinct from 60 W / 240 W power labeling. Certification artwork and logos are not reproduced.
- S008 · USB-IF · Cable and connector compliance
Cable power and data logo requirements · Recorded inspection 2026-10-01. Certification labels distinguish power from data capability. This atlas is not USB-IF certified and does not reproduce certification artwork.
Inherited scoped research is reused; this sheet does not claim every source was freshly reopened. No manufacturer figures, manuals or logos are redistributed.