Serial and parallel ports were once common means of data transfer, but have been largely replaced by USB ports. Parallel ports are one-way and mainly used for printers, while serial ports allow bidirectional communication with peripherals.
Both serial and parallel ports are examples of once cutting-edge computer technology; for much of the history of personal computers, both the serial and parallel ports were the most common means of data transfer and communication. With advances in technology, both serial and parallel port have largely been replaced by the use of USB ports and fewer new devices are designed to include a serial or parallel port.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 be able to use the latest generation peripherals. Perhaps the main difference between a serial and a parallel port is the way information is communicated: a parallel port is only capable of transferring information from the hard drive, whereas a serial port can transfer information both to and from a hard drive.
Parallel ports
Of the two, the parallel port is the older port with first use in the early 1970s, allowing printers to be connected directly to a mainframe and orders to be printed by entering a section of code via the command station. The parallel port allows for one-way transmission of data from the source to a secondary device, such as a printer. In some circles, the parallel port became commonly known as the printer port, as that function was originally the device’s most common application. Early external modems and storage devices are a couple of examples of the wider 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 Since the early 21st century, the parallel port has largely been replaced by the USB port, although some auxiliary devices still allow connection by either means.
Parallel ports generally have a minimum of 25-pin connectors that make up the actual connection portion of the device. These 25 pins will mate with the end of the device the port is connected to, and it is through the pins that information is transferred. Each pin connector performs a different function.
Serial ports
A key difference between a serial and a parallel port is that the serial port allows data to be transferred to the hard drive from a remote device, or transfer from the hard drive to a remote device, as opposed to the parallel port’s outbound-only communication; a serial port can also be referred to as a communications 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. Serial ports are known to be slower than parallel ports, however, because they can transfer information in two directions simultaneously.
A serial port usually consists of nine- or 25-pin connectors; many of the connectors in a 25-pin port are not used regularly. Originally, a nine-pin port was thought to be more compact and cheaper, but it was often not efficient enough to serve its purpose.
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