serial port
     n : an interface commonly used for modems and mice and some
         printers that transmits data a bit at a time

serial port
     
         or "com port" a connector on a
        computer to which you can attach a serial line connected to
        peripherals which communicate using a serial bit-stream
        protocol.  the most common type of serial port is a 25-pin
        d-type connector carrying eia-232 signals.  smaller
        connectors e.g. 9-pin d-type carrying a subset of eia-232
        are often used on personal computers.  the serial port is
        usually connected to an integrated circuit called a uart
        which handles the conversion between serial and parallel data.
     
        in the days before bit-mapped displays, and today on
        multi-user systems, the serial port was used to connect one
        or more terminals teletypewriters or vdus, printers,
        modems and other serial peripherals.  two computers
        connected together via their serial ports, possibly via
        modems, can communicate using a protocol such as uucp or
        cu or slip.
     
        1995-01-12
     
     
see also:
serial line protocol eia-232 d-type personal computer integrated circuit 
uart multi-user teletypewriters vdu modems 
uucp cu slip