Untangling the rat’s nest of USB-C standards and cables

The evolution to USB-C connectors just after the release of the USB 3.1 standard promised simplicity. Instead of host device Type-A and peripheral Type-B, Mini-B, Micro-B, and others, a single connector works for both ends of a connection and carries both power and data. Power can flow either way with the same cable: a computer charging a battery or phone; a battery charging a computer. It's also reversible across its long axis, so it's impossible to insert it in the wrong orientation.

USB-C was supposed to be the last cable you would ever need. It hasn't worked out that way.

Better names for standards, mandatory logos on cables. That's all we needed from the USB-IF. This has been bungled so hard they couldn't have messed it up more if they tried.