Generally speaking, you can differentiate USB cables by 2 ways:
Check the connector shapes which vary from smaller (Micro-B), oval (Lightning), rectangle (USB-A) or symmetrical (USB-C) ones. And we usually name a cable the type whichever end isn’t the standard USB-A connector. For example, if a charging cable has USB-A and USB-C connectors on two ends, then we call it a USB Type C cable or a USB A to USB C cable. And a data cable with the same connector at both sides will be that type of cable. For example, a USB-A connector at both sides will be a USB-A cable.
We can also tell the version of USB cords by looking at the color of the inner plastic part in the connector. Typically, white refers to USB 1.0, black USB 2.0 and blue USB 3.0.