What is an adapter? Easily explained

We use the term "adapter" very often without thinking about it. But by far not everyone can explain exactly what an adapter actually is. We will help you with this practical tip.

What exactly is an adapter? - An introduction

• The many different electrical plugs and sockets that have developed are often a hindrance when you want to connect two different devices together. For example, a monitor can be connected to a computer using many different cables.
• If you don't have the right connections, you can use an adapter to connect different cables and still make a connection.
• Such an adapter can either be constructed as a cable that has different connections at the ends. Or it can have the shape of a small box into which the respective cables are inserted.
• Adapters are relatively cheap: If you want to connect a new HDMI display to your PC, you only buy the adapter for a few euros instead of having to buy a new computer.
• Adapters enable flexible connections: With an adapter, you do not always need the appropriate connection on the two devices that are to be connected. This gives you more freedom to choose which device you can connect to which.
• Adapters save space: With a special plug on your cell phone and a suitable adapter, you can connect it to your computer via USB. Nevertheless, a lot of space is not used on the cell phone but via a USB connection.

The differences hiss between adapters

Basically, adapters can be divided into two categories: so-called "active" or "passive" adapters.

• A passive adapter only creates a connection between the two devices or connections. The transmitted signal is not changed here. An example of this are travel adapters for abroad. These ensure that, for example, the power cable of your cell phone charger also fits into an outlet in your travel destination.
• An "active" adapter also changes the signal, for example by changing the transmitted voltage. For this purpose, small electronic components are used in the adapter, which have to be supplied with electricity. Often this happens via the cable itself. In rare cases you have to supply the adapter with additional power.
• However, an adapter does not always have to be electronic, but can also be used for mechanical connections. In photography, for example, we also speak of adapters when a lens with an adapter is screwed onto a camera from another brand.

In the next practical tip we will show you how to use an HDMI to SCART adapter on your monitor or television. If you are interested in Powerline adapters, we tested them in another article.