Computing Dictionary
serial port definition
hardware, communications (Or "com port") A connector on a computer to which you can attach a
serial line connected to peripherals which communicate using a serial (bit-stream)
protocol. The most common type of serial port is a 25-pin D-type connector carrying
EIA-232 signals. Smaller connectors (e.g. 9-pin
D-type) carrying a subset of EIA-232 are often used on
personal computers. The serial port is usually connected to an
integrated circuit called a
UART which handles the conversion between serial and parallel data.
In the days before bit-mapped displays, and today on
multi-user systems, the serial port was used to connect one or more terminals (
teletypewriters or
VDUs), printers,
modems and other serial peripherals. Two computers connected together via their serial ports, possibly via
modems, can communicate using a
protocol such as
UUCP or
CU or
SLIP.
(1995-01-12)
