This is important to keep the signal intact in environments with a lot of electrical "noise".
Shielding - USB connectors are shielded, such that a metal shell which is not part of the electrical circuit is provided.
USB connectors are designed to transmit 5V, up to 500mA. These are for power, ground, and two data lines (D+ and D-).
Four contacts - All USB connectors have at least four contacts (although some may have five, and USB 3.0+ connectors have even more).
It may be possible to force a connector in wrong, but that will result in damage to the device.
Polarization - A USB connector can only nominally be inserted one way.
However, all USB connectors will have some things in common: In the USB standard, there is a difference between the two, and the connectors on cables and devices reflect this. USB connectors come in two flavors: host and peripheral. Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Pin It USB Connectors