Composite Audio/ Video Cables
These are the most common cables used for connecting your projector to your standard VCR and stereo equipment. Typically, they are color-coded: red, white, and yellow. Red is for right channel audio. White is for left channel audio. Yellow is for video. The entire video signal is transmitted by one cable. Composite Video produces the lowest resolution at 200-220p. Due to the low resolution that RCA composite video provides, it should be used only if your source device does not offer S-video or Component video outputs. This type of port does support EDTV or HDTV resolutions.
Component video cables are used for connecting your projector to a DVD player, HDTV tuner, digital cable box, or digital satellite box. The signal is routed out of your source device into the projector. Component video supports High Definition signals up to 720p, and provides a much better picture than S-video or RCA composite video.
DVI cables are used to connect your projector to a DVI-enabled computer, DVD player, digital satellite or cable TV box, or any device with a DVI-out port. DVI supports all HDTV resolutions including 720p, 1080i, and 1080p and carries video signals only (no audio). DVI is offered in DVI-D, which is only digital, and DVI-I which supports analog and digital signals. Projectors have DVI-D ports, so ensure the cable you purchase is a DVI-D cable.
HDMI cables are used to connect an output device such as a DVD player, HD DVD player, BluRay player, gaming console, digital satellite box, or digital cable box. HDMI connections transmit both digital video and audio and support all HDTV resolutions including 720p, 1080i, and 1080p. Since HDMI and DVI use the same method to transfer video, you can connect a device with HDMI and a device with DVI with an HDMI to DVI cable. However, using an HDMI to DVI cable will not carry audio signals since DVI is a purely video connection. An HDMI connection is the simplest way to provide the best picture and sound for high definition content.
The S-Video cables are used to connect to a video source's output port. S-Video cables differ from composite cables in that they split the video signal into two different components: luminance and chrominance. While approximately twice the resolution of Composite Video, S-Video does not provide the definition and clarity that the VGA, M1, DVI, or Component ports do. S-Video connectors are keyed and will only fit in one direction. Audio is carried through a separate audio port, like all of the other video ports presented here.
Universal Serial Bus (USB) Connections are very versatile and used for transmitting data, however video projectors do not always offer USB connections. They are present only on a few projector models. When a projector does have a USB connection it will typically be a type B connector. USB connections come in two different types, USB-B connector and USB-A connector.The USB connectors you see on computers are typically USB-A connectors. Projectors that do have a USB connection can be used to display pictures from a flash drive, videos from an iPod, or can even be used with a USB hub to connect multiple sources at once. 
VGA cables are used as a pass-through to connect another output device, such as a monitor or another projector, to your projector and display the same image. If you are using a monitor with a pigtail, the pigtail will be male so you can connect the monitor directly or with a male to female cable. If the second output device does not have a pigtail, then you will use a male to male cable.