these bus systems had parallel data and control lines, much in the way parallel printer interfaces worked, which also appeared around this time. Later, the serial point-to-point connections of computer peripherals were extended to support longer distances and, finally, also multidrop arrangements. The capability of having a bus structure with more than just two connections
together with increased noise immunity due to differential signal coding eventually made RS-485 a cornerstone of fieldbus technology up to the present day.