What is "printer cable"

n. a cable between a computer and a printer

Printer cable refers to the cable that carries data between a computer and a printer.

There are many different types of cables, for example:

• Serial: RS-232, EIA-422
• Parallel
• FireWire
• USB

Parallel port printers have been slowly phased out, and are now difficult to find for the most part, being considered as an obsolete legacy port on most new computers. Those who have printers and scanners with only parallel port may still be able to connect the devices via the use of USB adapters a.k.a. Parallel-to-USB cable, or use a PCI parallel printer port card. Generally, FireWire's very high speeds of up to 800 Mbit/s are excessive for printers.

Due to request from retailers, printer manufacturers have gradually stopped including the necessary printer cable to connect the printer to a computer. Retailers usually make a huge profit on selling cables, sometimes as much as 3000% (a cable costs about $1 to produce and package, and is sold at retail stores for as much as $30).