IEEE 1394 Interface

Definition - What does IEEE 1394 Interface mean?

The IEEE 1394 interface is an electronic standard that is used to connect computers. It includes a plug-and-socket connection with a serial bus interface. Up to 63 devices may be connected at the same time with (relatively) high data transfer speeds.

The IEEE 1394 standard has proved very popular for communication between computers and peripheral devices.

The IEEE 1394 interface is commonly known as FireWire.

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Techopedia explains IEEE 1394 Interface

The standard IEEE 1394 was developed by Apple in 1986. Most consumers simply refer to it as "FireWire." It is widely available in the market in the forms of coaxial, wireless and fiber optic cable.

IEEE 1394 interface has the following features:

Real-time data transferring for multimedia applications
100-800 Mb/s data transfer rate
Hot plugging is allowed (at a minimum ratio)
Line terminators are not required
Plug-and-play
Auto-configuration for many peripheral devices
Same connectors for multiple devices and components

The FireWire system is commonly used to connect digital cameras and other storage devices. FireWire has an edge over USB in terms of power distribution, reliability and data transfer speed. Moreover, FireWire system has adopted the functionalities and characteristics of SCSI.