Why do USB cables have different ends?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Define host and device roles
Define host and device roles ✓ — Correct! Traditional USB is asymmetric by design. Type-A (rectangular) connects to hosts (computers, chargers)—supplies power. Type-B/Micro/Mini (square/trapezoid) connects to devices (phones, printers)—receives power. This prevents conflicts—only one side supplies power. USB-C is reversible and can negotiate roles, but older USBs needed physical asymmetry to define master-slave relationships!
Increase connector durability — Wrong. Asymmetry isn't for durability. It's to enforce correct connection roles—hosts supply power through Type-A, devices receive through Type-B variants.
Support different data speeds — Wrong. Connector type doesn't determine speed—USB 2.0/3.0/3.1 versions do. Different shapes enforce host/device roles in power/data hierarchy.