A bus is a system within a computer, or between computers, that serves as a channel for communication between various hardware components. In its most basic form, it serves as a conduit for data transfer among different components. For example, in a personal computer, the bus will carry signals from the motherboard to the CPU, from the CPU to the RAM, and from the RAM to the disk drive.
Bus architectures vary in complexity. The most common form of bus architecture is the industry-standard PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus. This bus is used in most personal computers. It is a point-to-point bus with a designated master, commonly the CPU, controlling the timing and order of transactions.
Modern systems may support other bus architectures, such as the Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP), the Education Universal Bus (EUB) or Universal Serial Bus (USB). These buses bring additional features to computers, such as faster data transfer, greater security or extended compatibility.
The bus is essential to the design of any computer system. It is used for the coordination of activities that allow the components of a system to communicate with each other. Without it, individual components would be unable to function together.
