Engadget
These two connector types are visually distinct, but looks aren’t their only differences.
You likely use USB every day to charge your phone, connect peripherals to your computer and much more.
USB-C is newer than USB-A but the older standard is still commonly used today.
USB-An is one of the two original connectors defined in the USB 1 standard.
USB was created to simplify computer peripherals by providing one connection for accessories. Early versions of USB designated one device as the host and the second as the connected device; they weren't reversible.
USB-B was the companion connector type in the early days, used for peripherals. You'll occasionally still see USB-B used for devices like printers, but it's much less common now. Mini-B and Micro-B served the same purpose, but were smaller so they could fit on mobile devices like MP3 players, phones and game controllers.
USB-An is still used today and has wide compatibility across devices given how long it's been around.
USB-C debuted in 2014, though devices using it didn't properly roll out until 2015.
Nowadays, the standard names are USB 5 Gbps, USB 10 Gbps and USB 20 Gbps to designate their max speeds.
USB-C can be as slow as USB 2.0, but it can also meet the USB 20 Gbps standard. USB4 is only supported with USB-C. To take advantage of these faster standards, all parts of the connection must support it. If you plug a USB 20 Gbps cable into a port that caps at USB 5 Gbps, it will only transfer data at the lower speed.