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What is the difference between UART and USB?

Prev Update date: Sep 30,2024 Next

UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter) and USB (Universal Serial Bus) are both communication protocols used in electronic devices, but they have several key differences:

1. Purpose:
   - UART: Primarily used for short-distance, low-speed communication between microcontrollers and peripherals.
   - USB: Designed for connecting computers to peripherals and other devices, supporting higher speeds and longer distances.

2. Speed:
   - UART: Typically operates at lower speeds, ranging from 9600 bps to 115200 bps.
   - USB: Much faster, with speeds ranging from 1.5 Mbps (USB 1.0) to 40 Gbps (USB 4.0).

3. Complexity:
   - UART: Simple protocol with minimal overhead.
   - USB: More complex protocol with additional features like power delivery and plug-and-play functionality.

4. Wiring:
   - UART: Usually requires only two wires (TX and RX) for data transmission.
   - USB: Uses four wires (power, ground, and two data lines).

5. Synchronization:
   - UART: Asynchronous communication, no shared clock signal.

   - USB: Synchronous communication, uses a shared clock signal.


UART display


6. Power delivery:
   - UART: Does not provide power to connected devices.
   - USB: Can provide power to connected devices (5V in older versions, up to 100W in newer versions).

7. Device addressing:
   - UART: No built-in addressing scheme.
   - USB: Supports device addressing and enumeration.

8. Standardization:
   - UART: Less standardized, implementations can vary.
   - USB: Highly standardized with strict specifications.

9. Distance:
   - UART: Typically used for short-distance communication (up to a few meters).
   - USB: Can support longer distances, especially with active cables or hubs.

10. Widespread use:
    - UART: Commonly used in embedded systems and microcontroller applications.
    - USB: Ubiquitous in consumer electronics, computers, and mobile devices.

In summary, UART is simpler and suited for low-speed, short-distance communication in embedded systems, while USB is more complex, faster, and designed for versatile connectivity in a wide range of devices.
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