Before the advent of printers with USB connections; the dominant standard was IEEE 1284; aka the "parallel printer interface". If you have a computer and printer with this interface; you can depend on Monoprice to stock the cables you will need to connect them! This parallel printer cable provides the most common printer connection with a DB25 male connector on one end; to connect to the computer s parallel port; and a Centronics CN36 male connector on the other end; to connect to the printer s parallel port. The 25 conductors in this cable provide individual signal connections and shared return grounds for the remaining 8 conductors. The connector heads are molded onto the cable and the DB25 end has thumbscrews for securing the connector to the computer; while the CN36 end has metal clip receptacles for securing it to the printer.