# USB 2 Standard-B receptacle

> a legacy USB receptacle that preceded USB-C (“B” indicating the peripheral device end)

**Wikidata**: [Q41796321](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q41796321)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/usb-2-standard-b-receptacle

## Summary
The USB 2 Standard-B receptacle is a legacy USB connector designed for peripheral devices, serving as the predecessor to USB-C. It supports USB 1.1, USB 2.0, and power delivery, featuring a distinctive trapezoidal shape. Widely used before the adoption of USB-C, it connects to host devices via a USB 2 Standard-B plug.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name**: USB 2.0 Standard-B receptacle (per USB-IF documentation).
- **Pin Configuration**: 4 pins (VBUS, D−, D+, GND) with standardized colors (red, white, green, black) and functions.
- **Replaced By**: USB-C receptacle, which offers faster speeds and reversible design.
- **Compatibility**: Supports USB 1.1 (Low/Full Speed) and USB 2.0 (High Speed) protocols.
- **Physical Design**: Trapezoidal shape to prevent incorrect insertion, typically mounted on devices like printers or hubs.
- **Aliases**: Includes "Hi-Speed USB Standard-B receptacle" and "USB 1.1 Standard-B receptacle" due to backward compatibility.
- **Documentation**: Specified in USB 2.0 and USB 3.1 legacy connector standards.

## FAQs
### Q: What devices commonly used the USB 2 Standard-B receptacle?
A: It was widely used on peripherals like printers, scanners, and external hard drives before USB-C adoption.

### Q: Is the USB 2 Standard-B receptacle still in use today?
A: While largely replaced by USB-C, it may still appear in older devices or specific industrial applications.

### Q: How does the USB 2 Standard-B receptacle differ from USB-A?
A: USB-A is a host-side connector (e.g., on computers), while USB-B is device-side, with a distinct shape to prevent mismatched connections.

## Why It Matters
The USB 2 Standard-B receptacle played a critical role in standardizing connections for peripheral devices, ensuring reliable data transfer and power delivery in the pre-USB-C era. Its design minimized user error through its unique shape and supported backward compatibility with USB 1.1, making it a versatile solution for over two decades. While superseded by faster, reversible USB-C connectors, its legacy persists in older hardware and industrial systems, underscoring its historical significance in the evolution of universal connectivity standards.

## Notable For
- **Trapezoidal Shape**: Prevented incorrect insertion into host ports.
- **Four-Pin Configuration**: Carried power (VBUS, GND) and data signals (D+/D−) for USB 1–2 protocols.
- **Backward Compatibility**: Supported USB 1.1 devices while enabling USB 2.0 speeds (up to 480 Mbit/s).
- **Device-Side Standard**: Universally recognized as the "peripheral end" of USB cables.

## Body
### Technical Specifications
- **Pinout**:  
  - **VBUS (Pin 1)**: Red, 5V power supply.  
  - **D− (Pin 2)**: White, data negative.  
  - **D+ (Pin 3)**: Green, data positive.  
  - **GND (Pin 4)**: Black, ground.  
- **Dimensions**: Standardized to fit USB 2.0 cable plugs (specified in USB-IF documentation).

### Historical Context
- Introduced with USB 1.0 (1996) and updated for USB 2.0 (2000).  
- Phased out with the USB 3.0 Micro-B (2008) and later USB-C (2014).  

### Relationships with Other Connectors
- **Opposite Connector**: USB 2 Standard-B plug (cable end).  
- **Not to Be Confused With**:  
  - **USB 2 Standard-A**: Host-side rectangular connector.  
  - **USB Micro-B**: Smaller, non-rectangular shape for mobile devices.  
  - **USB 3.0 Standard-B**: Adds extra pins for SuperSpeed data.  

### Applications
- Common in printers, routers, and external storage devices pre-2010s.  
- Supported both data transfer and charging (up to 2.5W).

## References

1. [Source](https://www.usb.org/document-library/usb-31-legacy-cable-and-connector-revision-10)
2. [Source](https://www.usb.org/document-library/universal-serial-bus-31-legacy-connectors-and-cable-assemblies-compliance-document)
3. [Source](https://www.usb.org/document-library/usb-32-revision-11-june-2022)
4. [Source](https://www.usb.org/document-library/usb-type-cr-connectors-and-cable-assemblies-compliance-document-rev-21b)
5. [Source](https://www.usb.org/document-library/usb-type-cr-cable-and-connector-specification-release-24)
6. [Source](https://www.usb.org/document-library/usb-20-specification)