USB On-The-Go (USB OTG)

Definition - What does USB On-The-Go (USB OTG) mean?

USB On-The-Go (USB OTG) is a new type of technology based on Universal Serial Bus (USB) technology, which was created at the turn of the millennium. Traditional USB was used with standard connectors for a range of devices, including laptops and desktops computers, smartphones, mobile devices, flash drives and cameras.

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Techopedia explains USB On-The-Go (USB OTG)

USB OTG builds on the traditional USB design, allowing for more versatility of interaction between networked devices. In a traditional USB, a device was programmed as a host or hosted device. Experts used the terminology master/slave to describe how a hosting device always included certain control features used for the interaction of USB connected devices.

USB OTG introduces flexibility in hosting relationships between devices. For example, where in traditional USB, a computer is the host for a mobile device or other attachment, USB OTG allows for a device, like a smartphone, to be multi-operational. The smartphone may be a host to a flash drive or other attached device, or a hosted device when hooked up to a computer.