What's the difference between USB-C and Thunderbolt?

[iMore.com]

USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 may use the same port, but there are a number of key differences that can make using either a little confusing Full story from the iMore Blog...

 

[scruffypig]

USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 may use the same port, but there are a number of key differences that can make using either a little confusing Full story from the iMore Blog...

Here is a good guide from Apple’s website for identifying the ports on your Mac, since this article is rather confusing. Apple has been using USB-C for some time now.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201736

 

[Up_And_Away]

My brief summary recollection(hopefully correct):
USB-C is a physical connector type. That is pretty much it, it’s a physical connector. but obviously a connected cable needs a communication standard (what is sent on the wire/cable).
Here’s where it gets tricky. When you say “USBC”, Contemporary tech naming, currently, says that is the USBC connector with USB 3.2 communication standard (USB4 is around).

Thunderbolt is not a physical connector standard, it is a communication standard. It uses the USBC physical connector within the Thunderbolt standard — or I believe thunderbolt 3 and 4 only use USBC (?).

Obviously the hardware inside the connected devices will need to include Thunderbolt capability. Also, USB I believe is an open standard. Thunderbolt is owned and licensed by Intel.

 

[Annie_M]

Not having a Mac, I've heard Thunderbolt mentioned and always wondered about it. I think I have a better understanding now!