Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitters

ALSO CALLED: Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitters, Receivers, Transmitters, UARTs
DEFINITION: A UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter) is the microchip with programming that controls a computer's interface to its attached serial devices. Specifically, it provides the computer with the RS-232C Data Terminal Equipment ( DTE ) interface so that it can "talk" to and exchange data with modems and other serial devices. As part of this interface, the UART also:Converts the bytes it receives  … 
Definition continues below.

UNIVERSAL ASYNCHRONOUS RECEIVER/TRANSMITTERS DEFINITION (continued): …  from the computer along parallel circuits into a single serial bit stream for outbound transmissionOn inbound transmission, converts the serial bit stream into the bytes that the computer handlesAdds a parity bit (if it's been selected) on outbound transmissions and checks the parity of incoming bytes (if selected) and discards the parity bitAdds start and stop delineators on outbound and strips them from inbound transmissionsHandles interrupt s from the keyboard and mouse (which are serial devices with special port s)May handle other kinds of interrupt and device management that require coordinating … 
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