Parallel port

A parallel port is a type of interface found on computers (personal and otherwise) for connecting various peripherals. It is also known as a printer port or Centronics port. The IEEE 1284 standard defines the bi-directional version of the port. Parallel ports can be used to connect a host of popular computer peripherals:
* Printers
* Scanners
* CD burners
* External hard drives
* Iomega Zip removable drives
* Network adapters
* Tape backup drives

Parallel ports were originally developed by IBM as a way to connect a printer to your PC. When a PC sends data to a printer or other device using a parallel port, it sends 8 bits of data (1 byte) at a time. These 8 bits are transmitted parallel to each other, as opposed to the same eight bits being transmitted serially (all in a single row) through a serial port. The standard parallel port is capable of sending 50 to 100 kilobytes of data per second.

Pins (parallel connection)

Pin number Name
1 _STR - Strobe
2-9 Data Bits D0-D7
10 ACK - Acknowledgement
11 Busy
12 Paper Out
13 Online Signal
14 Auto feed
15 Error
16 Reset
17 Offline Signal
18-25 Ground