# 16550 UART

> integrated circuit serial port implementation

**Wikidata**: [Q2602961](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2602961)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16550_UART)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/16550-uart

## Summary
The 16550 UART is an integrated circuit model designed for serial communication, functioning as a serial port implementation. It is a type of universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART), which is a computer hardware device.

## Key Facts
*   The 16550 UART is an integrated circuit model.
*   It is a subclass of universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter and integrated circuit.
*   Its primary use is serial communication.
*   It was manufactured by National Semiconductor.
*   It functions as an integrated circuit serial port implementation.
*   It has a FOLDOC ID of 16550.
*   Its Wikipedia title is "16550 UART".
*   An image is available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/NatSemi_NS16550AFN.jpg.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the 16550 UART?
A: The 16550 UART is an integrated circuit model designed for implementing serial ports. It functions as a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter, enabling serial communication.

### Q: What is the primary function of the 16550 UART?
A: The primary function of the 16550 UART is serial communication. It serves as an integrated circuit serial port implementation within computer hardware.

### Q: Who manufactured the 16550 UART?
A: The 16550 UART was manufactured by National Semiconductor.

### Q: What type of electronic component is the 16550 UART?
A: The 16550 UART is an integrated circuit model. It is classified as both a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter and an integrated circuit.

## Why It Matters
The 16550 UART holds significance as a foundational integrated circuit model for enabling serial communication in computer systems. As a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART), it provides the essential hardware implementation for serial ports, which were critical for connecting a wide range of peripheral devices such as modems, mice, and printers to computers. Its design as an integrated circuit offered a compact and standardized solution for managing the complex task of converting parallel data from a computer's internal bus into serial data for transmission, and vice-versa. This specific model, the 16550, became a widely recognized and utilized component, contributing significantly to the standardization and reliability of serial communication interfaces across personal computing and various embedded systems. Its widespread adoption helped define how many early computer peripherals interacted with host systems, making it a key element in the evolution of computer hardware connectivity.

## Notable For
*   Being an integrated circuit model specifically for serial port implementation.
*   Its classification as a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART).
*   Being manufactured by National Semiconductor.
*   Its specific designation "16550" as a recognized component in computer hardware.
*   Enabling serial communication, a fundamental aspect of computer peripheral connectivity.

## Body

### Overview
The 16550 UART is an integrated circuit model. It serves as a serial port implementation, with its primary use being serial communication. This component is classified as a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) and is also categorized as an integrated circuit. It functions as a computer hardware device.

### Manufacturer
The 16550 UART was manufactured by National Semiconductor.

### Identification and Classification
The entity has a FOLDOC ID of 16550. Its Freebase ID is /m/08mmr. The Wikipedia title for this entity is "16550 UART", and it has a Commons category named "16550 UART". Its Wikidata description is "integrated circuit serial port implementation". It is an instance of an integrated circuit model and is a subclass of both universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter and integrated circuit. An image of the component is available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/NatSemi_NS16550AFN.jpg.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013