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A USB Type‑B cable is mainly used to connect a computer or USB host to a peripheral device.
The most common example is a printer cable: one end is usually USB Type‑A or USB‑C for the computer, and the other end is the square-ish USB Type‑B connector for the printer.
Common uses include:
In short: USB Type‑B is the device-side connector used on larger peripherals, especially printers and professional equipment.
The classic USB Type‑B connector is roughly square, with slightly angled or beveled top corners. It is different from:
| Connector | Typical use | Shape |
|---|---|---|
| USB Type‑A | Computer, hub, charger side | Flat rectangular |
| USB Type‑B | Printer/scanner/audio interface side | Square-ish |
| Mini‑B / Micro‑B | Older cameras, phones, portable drives | Smaller device connectors |
| USB‑C | Modern phones, laptops, peripherals | Small reversible oval |
A typical older printer cable is:
USB‑A to USB‑B
Modern versions may be:
USB‑C to USB‑B
USB was originally designed with a clear distinction between:
The Type‑A connector was normally used on the host side, while the Type‑B connector was used on the peripheral side.
This helped prevent users from accidentally connecting two host devices directly together, for example computer-to-computer using an unsafe cable. It also made the cable direction physically obvious: the computer side supplies control and usually 5 V bus power, while the peripheral side receives data and sometimes power.
So USB Type‑B is not just a random shape. It was part of USB’s original electrical and mechanical design philosophy.
This is the most common use. Many inkjet, laser, and multifunction printers have a USB Type‑B socket.
A USB‑B printer cable lets the computer:
This is why many people simply call a USB Type‑B cable a printer USB cable.
Flatbed and document scanners often use USB‑B because it provides a stable data connection. Scanned images can be large, so a wired USB link is often more reliable than wireless transfer.
Many USB audio interfaces use USB Type‑B. Examples include recording interfaces, DACs, mixers, and some studio controllers.
The reason is partly mechanical: the Type‑B connector is larger and usually holds more securely than small connectors like Micro‑USB. In audio work, accidental disconnects can cause:
Many MIDI keyboards, synthesizers, drum pads, and controllers use USB‑B for:
In this case, the USB cable may replace the older round 5‑pin DIN MIDI cable for computer connection.
Some older external hard drives, especially desktop 3.5-inch drive enclosures or docking stations, use USB Type‑B or USB 3.0 Type‑B.
For USB 3.0 devices, the Type‑B connector is taller and has extra pins for SuperSpeed data. It is often blue inside.
Many uninterruptible power supplies use USB‑B to communicate with a computer. This allows software to:
USB Type‑B is also common on:
In these applications, USB‑B is valued because it is mechanically robust and clearly intended as the equipment-side connector.
This is the classic square connector.
Typical features:
USB 3.x Type‑B is larger and taller than USB 2.0 Type‑B. It has additional contacts for SuperSpeed differential pairs.
Typical features:
Compatibility detail:
These are smaller “B-side” USB connectors, but they are not the same as the full-size Type‑B printer-style connector.
USB Type‑B is less common on new consumer devices because USB‑C has become the preferred modern connector. USB‑C is:
However, USB Type‑B is still widely used in equipment with longer product lifecycles, especially:
For this reason, USB Type‑B cables are still useful and easy to find, even though phones, tablets, and modern laptops now mostly use USB‑C.
Yes, USB Type‑B cables can carry 5 V USB power, but their main purpose is usually data connection, not high-power charging.
For example:
No.
USB Type‑B is the older, square peripheral connector. USB‑C is the newer, small reversible connector used on many modern devices.
You can still connect a USB‑B device to a USB‑C laptop by using:
No. Printers are the most familiar use, but USB Type‑B is also used for scanners, audio gear, MIDI equipment, UPS units, industrial controllers, and test instruments.
When choosing a USB Type‑B cable:
A USB Type‑B cable is used to connect a computer to a peripheral device, most commonly a printer or scanner. It is also common on audio interfaces, MIDI keyboards, external drive docks, UPS units, lab instruments, and industrial equipment. The connector is square-ish, robust, and traditionally used on the device side of a USB connection. Newer equipment increasingly uses USB‑C, but USB Type‑B remains common in printers, music gear, and professional hardware.