Defined 1.0 Class Codes
USB Class Codes March 2, 2006
USB
defines class code information that is used to identify a device’s
functionality and to nominally load a device driver based on that
functionality. The information is contained in three bytes with the names Base Class, SubClass, and Protocol. (Note that ‘Base Class’ is used in this description to identify the first byte of the Class Code triple. That terminology is not used in the USB Specification). There are two places on a device where class code information can be placed.One place is in the Device Descriptor, and the other is in Interface Descriptors. Some
defined class codes are allowed to be used only in a Device Descriptor,
others can be used in both Device and Interface Descriptors, and some
can only be used in Interface Descriptors. The table below shows the currently defined set of Base
Class values, what the generic usage is, and where that Base Class can
be used (either Device or Interface Descriptors or both).
Base Class | Descriptor Usage | Description |
00h | Device | Use class information in the Interface Descriptors |
01h | Interface | Audio |
02h | Both | Communications and CDC Control |
03h | Interface | HID (Human Interface Device) |
05h | Interface | Physical |
06h | Interface | Image |
07h | Interface | Printer |
08h | Interface | Mass Storage |
09h | Device | Hub |
0Ah | Interface | CDC-Data |
0Bh | Interface | Smart Card |
0Dh | Interface | Content Security |
0Eh | Interface | Video |
0Fh | Interface | Personal Healthcare |
DCh | Both | Diagnostic Device |
E0h | Interface | Wireless Controller |
EFh | Both | Miscellaneous |
FEh | Interface | Application Specific |
FFh | Both | Vendor Specific |
Base Class 00h (Device)
This
base class is defined to be used in Device Descriptors to indicate that
class information should be determined from the Interface Descriptors
in the device. There is one class code definition in this base class. All other values are reserved.
This value is also used in Interface Descriptors to indicate a null class code triple.
Base Class | SubClass | Protocol | Meaning |
00h | 00h | 00h | Use class code info from Interface Descriptors |
Base Class 01h (Audio)
This
base class is defined for Audio capable devices that conform to the
Audio Device Class Specification found on the USB-IF website. That specification defines the usable set of SubClass and Protocol values. Values outside of that defined spec are reserved. These class codes may only be used in Interface Descriptors.
Base Class | SubClass | Protocol | Meaning |
01h | xxh | xxh | Audio device |
Base Class 02h (Communications and CDC Control)
This
base class is defined for devices that conform to the Communications
Device Class Specification found on the USB-IF website. That specification defines the usable set of SubClass and Protocol values. Values outside of that defined spec are reserved. Note
that the Communication Device Class spec requires some class code
values (triples) to be used in Device Descriptors and some to be used in
Interface Descriptors.
Base Class | SubClass | Protocol | Meaning |
02h | xxh | xxh | Communication device class |
Base Class 03h (HID – Human Interface Device)
This base class is defined for devices that conform to the HID Device Class Specification found on the USB-IF website. That specification defines the usable set of SubClass and Protocol values. Values outside of that defined spec are reserved. These class codes can only be used in Interface Descriptors.
Base Class | SubClass | Protocol | Meaning |
03h | xxh | xxh | HID device class |
Base Class 05h (Physical)
This base class is defined for devices that conform to the Physical Device Class Specification found on the USB-IF website. That specification defines the usable set of SubClass and Protocol values. Values outside of that defined spec are reserved. These class codes can only be used in Interface Descriptors.
Base Class | SubClass | Protocol | Meaning |
05h | xxh | xxh | Physical device class |
Base Class 06h (Still Imaging)
This base class is defined for devices that conform to the Imaging Device Class Specification found on the USB-IF website. That specification defines the usable set of SubClass and Protocol values. Values outside of that defined spec are reserved.
Base Class | SubClass | Protocol | Meaning |
06h | 01h | 01h | Still Imaging device |
Base Class 07h (Printer)
This base class is defined for devices that conform to the Printer Device Class Specification found on the USB-IF website. That specification defines the usable set of SubClass and Protocol values. Values outside of that defined spec are reserved. These class codes can only be used in Interface Descriptors.
Base Class | SubClass | Protocol | Meaning |
07h | xxh | xxh | Printer device |
Base Class 08h (Mass Storage)
This base class is defined for devices that conform to the Mass Storage Device Class Specification found on the USB-IF website. That specification defines the usable set of SubClass and Protocol values. Values outside of that defined spec are reserved. These class codes can only be used in Interface Descriptors.
Base Class | SubClass | Protocol | Meaning |
08h | xxh | xxh | Mass Storage device |
Base Class 09h (Hub)
This base class is defined for devices that are USB hubs and conform to the definition in the USB specification. That specification defines the complete triples as shown below. All other values are reserved. These class codes can only be used in Device Descriptors.
Base Class | SubClass | Protocol | Meaning |
09h | 00h | 00h | Full speed Hub |
01h | Hi-speed hub with single TT | ||
02h | Hi-speed hub with multiple TTs |
Base Class 0Ah (CDC-Data)
This
base class is defined for devices that conform to the Communications
Device Class Specification found on the USB-IF website. That specification defines the usable set of SubClass and Protocol values.Values outside of that defined spec are reserved. These class codes can only be used in Interface Descriptors.
Base Class | SubClass | Protocol | Meaning |
0Ah | xxh | xxh | CDC data device |
Base Class 0Bh (Smart Card)
This base class is defined for devices that conform to the Smart Card Device Class Specification found on the USB-IF website. That specification defines the usable set of SubClass and Protocol values.Values outside of that defined spec are reserved. These class codes can only be used in Interface Descriptors.
Base Class | SubClass | Protocol | Meaning |
0Bh | xxh | xxh | Smart Card device |
Base Class 0Dh (Content Security)
This
base class is defined for devices that conform to the Content Security
Device Class Specification found on the USB-IF website. That specification defines the usable set of SubClass and Protocol values. Values outside of that defined spec are reserved. These class codes can only be used in Interface Descriptors.
Base Class | SubClass | Protocol | Meaning |
0Dh | 00h | 00h | Content Security device |
Base Class 0Eh (Video)
This base class is defined for devices that conform to the Video Device Class Specification found on the USB-IF website. That specification defines the usable set of SubClass and Protocol values. Values outside of that defined spec are reserved. These class codes can only be used in Interface Descriptors.
Base Class | SubClass | Protocol | Meaning |
0Eh | xxh | xxh | Video device |
Base Class 0Fh (Personal Healthcare)
This
base class is defined for devices that conform to the Personal
Healthcare Device Class Specification found on the USB-IF website. That specification defines the usable set of SubClass and Protocol values. Values outside of that defined spec are reserved. These class codes should only be used in Interface Descriptors.
Base Class | SubClass | Protocol | Meaning |
0Fh | xxh | xxh | Personal Healthcare device |
Base Class DCh (Diagnostic Device)
This base class is defined for devices that diagnostic devices. There is currently only one value defined. All other values are reserved. This class code can be used in Device or Interface Descriptors.
Base Class | SubClass | Protocol | Meaning |
DCh | 01h | 01h | USB2 Compliance Device. Definition for this device can be found athttp://www.intel.com/technology/usb/spec.htm |