What does the letter "C" in USB-C really mean?

USB-C is today’s absolute standard – one connection that can do it all: charge, transfer data at incredible speeds, and even handle audio and video. “One cable to rule them all,” one might say. But if you ask what the letter “C” actually means, the answers are surprisingly varied.

Some claim it stands for “charging”, others for “connectivity”, and some even look for inspiration in the shape of the plug, which does indeed resemble a slightly stretched letter C. Unfortunately, none of these theories are true.

“C” for… connector type

In reality, “C” in USB-C doesn’t mean anything poetic. It simply refers to the connector type – the third in the history of USB. We’ve already had USB Type-A, then USB Type-B, and only after them did USB Type-C appear.

That’s it – no hidden meanings. The names were assigned by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), which is a consortium of technology companies responsible for maintaining USB standards.

The history isn't that straightforward

If someone were to attempt to count all the USB connectors, they would quickly notice that this “third” letter is a bit of an overstatement. After all, before USB-C, we had USB Mini-B (known from cameras or old MP3 players) and USB Micro-B, which dominated Android smartphones for years.

In reality, USB-C is not the third but the fifth type of USB connector when counting all commonly used versions. Mini and Micro can be considered something like “spin-offs” – a bit like the series in the Star Wars universe, which are an addition to the main saga, but still part of the same story.

USB and the chaos of names

It doesn't help that the USB-IF organization has a remarkable talent for… complicating simple things. An example? USB 3.0, which has evolved into USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, and even further. In this context, USB-C is just another chapter in the story of one of the most convoluted standards in the history of technology.

The letter "C" is not just a coincidence

The letter "C" in the name USB-C does not have a hidden meaning. It is a symbol of the third (in practice, the fifth) type of connector that combines all previous functions in one reversible port.

And while the name sounds trivial, the standard itself has changed the way we charge, transfer data, and connect devices. After all, "C" could very well stand for "convenient."