Editing Serial communication (section)

==Cables==
Many serial communication systems were originally designed to transfer data over relatively large distances through some sort of [[data cable]].

Practically all long-distance communication transmits data one bit at a time, rather than in parallel, because it reduces the cost of the cable. The cables that carry this data (other than "the" serial cable) and the [[computer port (hardware)|computer ports]] they plug into are usually referred to with a more specific name, to reduce confusion.

Keyboard and mouse cables and ports are almost invariably serial—such as [[PS/2 port]], [[Apple Desktop Bus]] and [[USB]].

The cables that carry digital video are also mostly serial—such as [[coax cable]] plugged into a [[HD-SDI]] port, a [[webcam]] plugged into a USB port or [[IEEE 1394|FireWire port]], [[Ethernet cable]] connecting an [[IP camera]] to a [[Power over Ethernet]] port, [[FPD-Link]], digital telephone lines (ex. [[ISDN]]), etc.

Other such cables and ports, transmitting data one bit at a time, include [[Serial ATA]], [[SCSI connector#Serial SCSI|Serial SCSI]], Ethernet cable plugged into [[Ethernet port]]s, the [[Display Data Channel]] using previously reserved pins of the [[VGA connector]] or the [[DVI port]] or the [[HDMI]] port.