The switch to USB Type-C and USB4 was supposed to flip the script. USB ports, cables, and communication protocols were a mess, with inconsistent specs and convoluted naming schemes. As it turns out, the USB Type-C hardware interface and USB4 communication protocol both fell into the same trap. USB4 could indicate a port or cable with a handful of specs and features, few of them guaranteed across all certified devices and accessories. And while many users think every cable or port using Type-C hardware meets USB4 standards, that isn't the case.