Data bus

Data bus is a term used in computer science to refer to the communication links and protocols used by the computer’s internal hardware and external peripherals to communicate data. It is essentially an information pipeline that allows different components of the computer system to exchange data.

In its most basic form, the data bus consists of two or more wires connecting the various system components, with the data itself being carried over these wires as a digital signal. The data signals are used to move data between different system components, such as the central processing unit (CPU) and memory, or a network interface card (NIC) and hard drive.

In more complex systems, such as modern CPUs and microcontrollers, the data bus is more complex and faster. Typically, multiple wires (or traces) are used to carry data signals, and protocols like Ethernet, PCI Express, and USB are used to move the data.

In embedded systems, where the components are smaller and closer together, the data bus is usually a custom arrangement that carries data and control signals between the individual components. For faster data transmission, protocols such as DDR, SDRAM, and EDO RAM are commonly used.

Data buses are an essential part of efficient system design in computing systems, and are used in virtually every device that contains a CPU and an operating system, from personal computers to smartphones, tablets, and cameras. Without the data bus, the components of the computer system could not communicate or coordinate.