Is UART the same as USB?

No, UART and USB are not the same, though they are both communication protocols used in electronics. Here are the key differences:

UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter):

1. Simple serial communication protocol
2. Typically used for short-distance, direct device-to-device communication
3. Uses two wires for data (TX and RX), plus ground
4. Asynchronous (no shared clock signal)
5. Lower data rates (commonly up to 115200 bps)

6. No standardized physical connector

USB (Universal Serial Bus):

1. More complex protocol with various versions (1.x, 2.0, 3.x)
2. Designed for connecting peripherals to computers
3. Uses four wires (power, ground, and two data lines)
4. Synchronous communication
5. Much higher data rates (up to several Gbps in newer versions)
6. Standardized connectors (Type-A, Type-B, Type-C, etc.)
7. Supports plug-and-play and power delivery

While both can be used for serial communication, USB is more versatile, faster, and widely adopted for consumer devices, while UART is simpler and often used in embedded systems and for debugging purposes.