Quick Reference Search Tool Webopedia Jobs Link to Us Advertising Tech Support Submit a URL Request a Term Report an Error Internet News Internet Investing Internet Technology Windows Internet Tech. A parallel interface for connecting an external device such as a printer .
Most personal computers have both a parallel port and at least one serial port .
It is often called a Centronics interface after the company that designed the original standard for parallel communication between a computer and printer. Both of these parallel ports support bi-directional communication and transfer rates ten times as fast as the Centronics port. Macintoshes have a SCSI port , which is parallel, but more flexible. Craig Peacock's Interfacing the PC Online tutorial on connecting anything electronic to your PC using common interfaces such as the serial and parallel ports. FAQ Contains information on programming the PC parallel port.