USB, Universal Serial Bus, cables are mechanisms that are designed to allow a variety of different external devices that increase communication capabilities to be connected to a computer or other data communications device. These mechanisms use a uniform interface socket to connect to the computer. USB cables and hubs advance plug-and-play capacities by permitting the computer to have numerous devices connected to it without having to shut it down or turn it off.

Some of the types of devices that can be operated using USB cables and hubs are monitors, mp3 players, mice, scanners, printers, keyboards, etc.