The USB-IF cable certification program aims to provide USB end users with a list of cables that meet quality standards necessary to operate in a USB environment. All cables do not have the same capabilities. The USB-IF certifies cables for different purposes. It is the end users responsibility to select a certified cable that has the capabilities necessary to allow optimum operation in their specific USB environment.

The USB Type-C^® certification program is composed of multiple documents depending on the capabilities of the cable. The following documents are applicable:

• The  USB Type-C^® Cable and Connector Compliance  document
• The  End Product Cable Test Plan
• If PD 3.0 is implemented
  • PD 3.0 Compliance Plan
  • PD 2.0 Compliance Plan

USB has evolved from a data interface capable of supplying limited power to a primary provider of power with a data interface. Today many devices charge or get their power from USB ports contained in laptops, workstations, docking stations, displays, cars, airplanes or even wall sockets. USB has become a ubiquitous power socket for many small devices such as cell phones, tablets, portable speakers and other hand-held devices. Users need USB to fulfil their requirements not only in terms of data but also to provide power to, or charge, their devices simply, often without the need to load a driver, in order to carry out “traditional” USB functions.

USB 4 Cable with power delivery up to 240W, which is very suitable for usb-c devices (such as Thunderbolt 4, thunderbolt 3, USB4, usb3), and can provide power transmission for laptops or mobile phones.(Note: Charging speed may be dependent on the host device’s charging capability)

USB4 runs fast by incorporating Intel’s Thunderbolt technology. It allows transfers at the rate of 40 gigabits per second, twice the speed of the latest version of USB 3 and 8 times the speed of the original USB 3 standard. 40Gbps speeds, can example, allow users to do things like connect two 4K monitors at once, or run high-end external GPUs with ease.

Key characteristics as specified in the USB4 specification include:

Two-lane operation using existing USB Type-C cables and up to 40 Gbps operation over 40 Gbps certified cables
Multiple data and display protocols to efficiently share the total available bandwidth over the bus
Backward compatibility with USB 3.2, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt 3
Another good news is that USB4 will use the same USB-C connector design as USB 3, which means manufacturers will not need to introduce new USB4 ports into their devices.