List of USB Device Classes supported by Windows Operating System as of today

The Base Class Code is a hexadecimal number which is used by the USB identify a device class. In the following lists it is provided in the parenthesis. Device Classes listed in Microsoft web-site:

1. Bluetooth class - (0xE0)

2. Chip/smart card interface devices (CCID) - (0x0B)

3. Hub class - (0x09)

4. Human interface device (HID) - (0x03)

5. Mass storage class (MSC) - (0x08)

6. Printing class - (0x07)

7. Scanning/imaging (PTP) - (0x06)

8. USB Audio class - (0x01)

9. Modem class (CDC) - (0x02)

10. Video class (UVC) - (0x0E)

Not all classes proposed by the USB-IF are implemented in the Operating Systems. Compare the following list with previous list. The numbers in the parenthesis will give th Base Class code. This should match in both the lists.

Device Classes listed in USB-IF web-site(www.usb.org):

1. Use class information in the Interface Descriptors - (0x00) - Special Case

2. Audio Class - (0x01)

3. Communications and CDC Control - (0x02)

4. HID (Human Interface Device) - (0x03)

5. Physical - (0x05)

6. Image (PTP) - (0x06)

7. Printer - (0x07)

8. Mass Storage (MSD) - (0x08)

9. Hub - (0x09)

10. CDC-Data - (0x0A)

11. Smart Card - (0x0B)

12. Content Security - (0x0D)

13. Video - (0x0E)

14. Diagnostic Device - (0xDC)

15. Wireless Controller - (0xE0)

16. Miscellaneous - (0xEF)

17. Application Specific - (0xFE)

18.

19. Vendor Specific - (0xFF)

20.

Each Device Class will have pre-defined format for the descriptors in use. So, when a particual device is implemented to use a particular device class, all the data structures need to be formatted as per the device class requirements.

Next Section on Standard USB Device Classes and Choosing the right Device Class for your application - (Part II) explains how Descriptors in USB is used to distinguish between Device Classes and how they need to be used for defining Device Classes.