USB (which means Universal Serial Bus), however, there is a distinction between a USB header and the actual USB port that your device connects to. A USB header is a multi-pin connector located on a motherboard that enables you to link USB devices to a PC or other gadgets featuring USB ports.
A USB port is the external connector where you insert a USB accessory. After your device is connected, the motherboard’s USB headers manage data and power distribution in relation to your USB component. Numerous USB standards exist in the market (e.g., USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB 3.1, etc.), indicating that there are various types of USB headers to understand.
Typically, motherboards come with a minimum of two USB headers, though many computers have six or more of these essential pin connectors. While some may never open their laptop to increase its USB header count, those intent on building a PC from scratch can install a header expansion card on the motherboard using an available peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) slot.
