USB, or Universal Serial Bus, is a standard interface for connecting peripheral devices, such as external hard drives, keyboards, mice, printers, and cameras, to a computer system. USB was first introduced in the mid-1990s and has become a widely adopted technology for connecting and transferring data between devices. USB devices are typically plug-and-play, meaning they can be connected and used immediately without the need for specialized drivers or software. USB also provides a way to charge devices, such as smartphones and tablets, using a USB charging cable. USB has evolved over the years to support higher data transfer speeds, increased power delivery, and new form factors, such as USB-C, which is reversible and can support data transfer rates of up to 10 Gbps. USB is an essential technology for connecting and managing peripheral devices, and has become a ubiquitous part of modern computing.