On computers, a serial port is a serial communication interface through which
information transfers in or out sequentially one bit at a time
data has been transferred through serial ports to devices such as
modems, terminals, various peripherals, and directly between computers.
While interfaces such as Ethernet, FireWire, and USB also send data as a serial stream,
the term serial port usually denotes hardware compliant with
RS-232
or a related standard, such as RS-485 or RS-422.
Server computers may use a serial port
as a control console for diagnostics,
while networking hardware (such as routers and switches) commonly use serial console ports for
configuration, diagnostics, and emergency maintenance access.
To interface with these and other devices,
USB-to-serial converters can quickly and easily
add a serial port to a modern PC.