In computer hardware, a port serves as an interface between the computer and other computers or devices. Physically, a port is a specialized outlet on a piece of equipment to which a plug or cable connects. Electronically, the several conductors making up the outlet provide a signal transfer between devices. Hardware ports may be physically male (unusual, since protruding pins easily break, a fate best left to inexpensive matching cable ends) or female![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMmDem__5z9_fioImIs7fzx1PNrESeebU6H1TasZJJvsEsLL0av0_P6mYNc371lkKtTBY8UMXowk5qmo29oHCInczVT2UWy-WxKG-RuJNi_gJemctBib8trEH8BEHS6TZrAzOym9km38/s200/PS+2+slot.jpg)
(usual on equipment). Computer ports in common use cover a wide variety of shapes such as round (PS/2, etc.), rectangular (FireWire, etc.), square (telephone modem), trapezoidal (D-Sub—the old printer port was a DB-25), etc. There is some standardization to physical properties and function. For instance, most computers have a keyboard port (currently a round DIN-like outlet referred to as PS/2)
, into which the
keyboard is connected.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMmDem__5z9_fioImIs7fzx1PNrESeebU6H1TasZJJvsEsLL0av0_P6mYNc371lkKtTBY8UMXowk5qmo29oHCInczVT2UWy-WxKG-RuJNi_gJemctBib8trEH8BEHS6TZrAzOym9km38/s200/PS+2+slot.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuF7araNdAGmWjwDl-eNcNLq4cSxizITuf2OrjbCKPnFFEkxPo5s1mI8moK4VyTsThFxayTHy4g-8aX3GKoKe6gLEAda_0lF51ssl75jMmqy5tjfP-8imGeD3zf_5jhh7Z7u08_7Dg-c/s200/fire+wire.jpg)
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpiNIFaAGTGVoQFSVjiLRVRbK5aC1VXF7-cMVU1YGx5-xOWdadxNw9cIhI_wdlmNMx5Atet3yVlZ9rE2Lb4dMLD0V1FCPa3Wa0dMOlAAP4EQB6nsh_UQyj-vl6i73TeUvJ7OSpxVFgcA/s200/mobo_ports1.png)
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