What is the Difference Between a Serial and Parallel Port?
Both serial ports and parallel ports are examples of computer technology that were once cutting edge; for most of the history of personal computers, both the serial and parallel port were the most common means of data transfer and communication. With technological advances, both the serial and parallel port have largely been replaced by the use of USB ports, and fewer new devices are designed to include either a serial or parallel port. Older personal computers that feature a serial and parallel port often require an adapter cable in order to make use of the latest generation of peripheral devices. Perhaps the main difference between a serial and parallel port is the way information is communicated: a parallel port is only able to transfer information from the hard drive , while 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 design with the first use in the early...