Brief Guide to Parallel Ports

Parallel ports are a common type of connection used to connect older printers to computers. Most computers still include parallel parts, even though the USB interface has taken over as the industry standard for most printers on the market. If you look in the back of your computer, you will most likely find a long set of pins and two connectors, this is your parallel port. Chances are you have never used it or even thought about it before, but if you found yourself using an older printer, this would be where you would plug it in.

While parallel ports are primarily used for printers, they can also be used for scanners, CD drives, external hard drives, Zip drives, older network adaptors and other types of backup devices. Some floppy disk drives also connect through the parallel port. In most cases, these devices are going to be much older than the computer you may be using. Now, most of these devices connect via the USB connection on a device.

IBM developed the parallel port as an alternative to hardwiring devices directly into the motherboard. At the time, IBM focused on streamlining printers to make them interact with computers faster than before. They created a specific pin design to make this happen coupled with a new type of cable for speed. Each pin set sends a different type of signal from the computer to the printer and vice versa. This provides a stronger, more consistent signal than other forms of connections used at the time.

During the mid-1990s, two different types of parallel port standards were released: EPP and ECP. Back then, computers had to be set up to interact with each standard, and now computers can recognize which type is connected and configure for its use automatically. This takes the guess work out for users who are not familiar with the connection. However, since parallel ports are not widely used anymore, most computer users never have to deal with such a connection.