An example of a parallel port on the back of a desktop computer.
HowStuffWorks.com
If you have a printer connected to your computer, there is a good chance that it uses the parallel port. While USB is becoming increasingly popular, the parallel port is still a commonly used interface for printers.
Parallel ports can be used to connect a host of popular computer peripherals:
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- Printers
- Scanners
- CD burners
- External hard drives
- Iomega Zip removable drives
- Network adapters
- Tape backup drives
In this article, you will learn why it is called the parallel port, what it does and exactly how it operates.