<Table> Parallel port <Tr> <Td_colspan="4"> A DB - 25 connector often used for a parallel printer port on IBM PC compatible computers, with the printer icon . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Type </Th> <Td_colspan="3"> Point - to - point </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="4"> Production history </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Designer </Th> <Td_colspan="3"> Centronics, IBM </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Designed </Th> <Td_colspan="3"> 1970 - 1981 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Manufacturer </Th> <Td_colspan="3"> Centronics, Dataproducts, Intel, IBM, Compaq, Nortel, etc </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Superseded by </Th> <Td_colspan="3"> USB (1996) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="4"> General specifications </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Length </Th> <Td_colspan="3"> 2.3 cm (0.91 in) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Hot pluggable </Th> <Td_colspan="3"> Usually not </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> External </Th> <Td_colspan="3"> Yes </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Cable </Th> <Td_colspan="3"> Usually up to 25 wires including ground; optionally shielded </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Pins </Th> <Td_colspan="3"> 8 data, 4 output control, 5 input control, 8 ground </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Connector </Th> <Td_colspan="3"> DB - 25, DB25F, "Centronics" 36 - pin Amphenol, DC - 37, others </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="4"> Electrical </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Signal </Th> <Td_colspan="3"> 0 to + 5.0 volt DC </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Max . voltage </Th> <Td_colspan="3"> 5 volts DC </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="4"> Data </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Data signal </Th> <Td_colspan="3"> Parallel </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Width </Th> <Td_colspan="3"> Variable </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Bitrate </Th> <Td_colspan="3"> PP: 150 kbit / s, EPP: 2 MB / s ECP: 2.5 MB / s </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Max . devices </Th> <Td_colspan="3"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Protocol </Th> <Td_colspan="3"> Application dependent </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="4"> Pin out </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="4"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="4"> IBM PC - compatible parallel port pinout </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td_colspan="4"> A DB - 25 connector often used for a parallel printer port on IBM PC compatible computers, with the printer icon . </Td> </Tr>

The number of pins in a parallel port connector are