The Full Form of GPIB is‍ General Purpose Interface Bus.

GPIB is an interface bus or connection system used primarily to link electronics test equipment to a central controlled to run automated tests although it can be used for many data communication requirements.

The GPIB or General Purpose Interface Bus or IEEE 488 bus is still one of the more popular and versatile interface standards available today.

GPIB is widely used for enabling electronics test equipment to be controlled remotely, although it was also used in a many other applications including general computer communications.

It can be used to control a host of test instruments: everything from digital multimeters and signal generators of all sorts to switching matrices, spectrum analyzers, vibration meters . . . in fact any form of electronics test equipment. At one time it even became popular for linking computers to their printers and many low cost printers used GPIB.

Today most bench electronics test equipment has either a GPIB option or are fitted with it as standard. Even though it has been surpassed by other technologies, it is still widely used and often fitted as a basic option.

It subsequently became the subject of several standards, and is generically known as GPIB (General Purpose Interface Bus). Although the bus was created in the late 1960s to connect together automated test equipment, it also had some success during the 1970s and 1980s as a peripheral bus for early microcomputers, notably the Commodore PET.