Portable USB library for cross-platform development
libusb is a free, open-source C library that gives developers direct access to USB devices across a wide range of operating systems, including Linux, macOS, Windows, and Android. It simplifies low-level USB communications by providing a consistent API, making it easier to create portable applications that work reliably on different platforms.
The library supports core USB functionality such as device enumeration and control, bulk, interrupt, and isochronous transfers. Its API is stable, well-documented, and includes both synchronous and asynchronous modes, giving developers flexibility depending on the project. Since it is designed with portability in mind, libusb works with diverse backends and environments, allowing integration with many types of hardware. Community resources—such as documentation, examples, and mailing lists—further help developers adopt the library for projects ranging from research tools to commercial applications.
Feature-rich and flexible for developers
Limitations to consider
Despite its strengths, libusb does come with trade-offs. Some platforms handle integration more smoothly than others, with setup and driver configuration requiring extra effort in certain environments. Hotplug event handling, while supported on some systems, is not consistently reliable everywhere. And because libusb is community-driven, it lacks official commercial support, leaving developers to rely on peer assistance and open documentation.
Final thoughts
libusb remains a mature, flexible, and widely adopted solution for USB development. While it demands a certain level of technical expertise to configure and optimize across platforms, its open-source nature, cross-platform portability, and strong community backing make it one of the most practical choices for low-level USB communication.
