Serial and parallel ports are examples of computer technology that was once cutting edge; For most of the history of personal computers, serial and parallel ports were the most common means of transferring and communicating data. With advances in technology, both serial and parallel ports have largely been superseded by the use of USB ports, and fewer new devices are designed to include a serial or parallel port. Older personal computers that have a serial and parallel port often require an adapter cable to use the latest generation of peripheral devices. Perhaps the main difference between a serial port and a parallel port is the way information is communicated: a parallel port can only transfer information from the hard drive, while a serial port can transfer information to and from a hard drive.
Parallel ports use a 25-pin connector, while serial ports use a 9-pin adapter.
parallel ports
Of the two, the parallel port is the older port design, first used in the early 1970s, allowing printers to be connected directly to a mainframe and print requests to be executed by entering a code section through the workstation command. The parallel port allows one-way transmission of data from the source to a secondary device, such as a printer. In some circles, the parallel port is commonly known as the printer port, since this function was originally the most common application of the device. Early external modems and storage devices are some examples of the broader use of parallel ports. Since the early 21st century, the parallel port has largely been replaced by the USB port, although some auxiliary devices still allow connection by both means.
Serial ports can be found on older laptops, but are usually not included with a new device as they have been replaced by USB ports.
Parallel ports typically have a minimum of 25-pin connectors that make up the actual connecting portion of the device. These 25 pins will correspond to the end of the device to which the port is being connected and it is through the pins that the information is transferred. Each pin connector performs a different function.
Parallel ports were first used in the 1970s to connect computer printers.
serial ports
An important difference between a serial and parallel port is that the serial port allows data to be transferred to the hard drive from a remote device or from the hard drive to a remote device, unlike the parallel port’s output-only communication; A serial port can also be called a communication port or a bidirectional port. This two-way communication process allows workstations to be connected to larger terminals, as well as a wide range of peripheral devices, such as external hard drives or smartphones. However, serial ports are known to be slower than parallel ports because they can transfer information in two directions simultaneously.
The serial port will generally be made up of nine or 25-pin connectors; several of the connectors on a 25-pin port are not regularly used. Originally, the nine-pin port was believed to be more compact and cost-effective, but it was often not efficient enough to serve its purpose.
Both serial and parallel ports have been mostly replaced by the use of USB ports.
