# Circuit Playground Express Serial Communications ## Overview ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/059/134/medium800/makecode_putty.png?1534292438) This guide explains serial connections between the Circuit Playground Express and other devices. This is very useful for making connections to other microcontrollers or single board computers like the Raspberry Pi. And some sensors require serial communications instead of other protocols like I2C or SPI. An outbound serial connection can be used for applications like CNC, data logging, debugging code, and many other things. You can program serial communications with Microsoft MakeCode and CircuitPython - examples will be shown in each. ## Parts List ### Circuit Playground Express [Circuit Playground Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333) **Circuit Playground Express** is the next step towards a perfect introduction to electronics and programming. We've taken the original Circuit Playground Classic and made it even better! Not only did we pack even more sensors in, we also made it even easier to... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3333/guides) ![A Black woman's manicured hand holds a round microcontroller with lit up LEDs.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/3333-05.jpg) ### USB to TTL Serial Cable - Debug / Console Cable for Raspberry Pi [USB to TTL Serial Cable - Debug / Console Cable for Raspberry Pi](https://www.adafruit.com/product/954) The cable is easiest way ever to connect to your microcontroller/Raspberry Pi/WiFi router serial console port. Inside the big USB plug is a USB\<-\>Serial conversion chip and at the end of the 36" cable are four wire - red power, black ground, white RX into USB port, and green TX out... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/954) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/954/guides) ![USB to TTL Serial Cable With Type A plug and 4 wire sockets](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/954-02.jpg) - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuit-playground-express-serial-communications/what-is-serial-communications.md) ## Featured Products ### Circuit Playground Express [Circuit Playground Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333) **Circuit Playground Express** is the next step towards a perfect introduction to electronics and programming. We've taken the original Circuit Playground Classic and made it even better! Not only did we pack even more sensors in, we also made it even easier to... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3333/guides) ### USB to TTL Serial Cable - Debug / Console Cable for Raspberry Pi [USB to TTL Serial Cable - Debug / Console Cable for Raspberry Pi](https://www.adafruit.com/product/954) The cable is easiest way ever to connect to your microcontroller/Raspberry Pi/WiFi router serial console port. Inside the big USB plug is a USB\<-\>Serial conversion chip and at the end of the 36" cable are four wire - red power, black ground, white RX into USB port, and green TX out... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/954) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/954/guides) ### Adafruit CP2104 Friend - USB to Serial Converter [Adafruit CP2104 Friend - USB to Serial Converter](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3309) Discontinued - **you can grab** [Adafruit CP2102N Friend - USB to Serial Converter ](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5335) **instead! ** Long gone are the days of parallel ports and serial ports. Now the USB port reigns supreme! But USB is hard, and you just... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3309) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3309/guides) ### Small Alligator Clip to Male Jumper Wire Bundle - 6 Pieces [Small Alligator Clip to Male Jumper Wire Bundle - 6 Pieces](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3448) When working with unusual non-header-friendly surfaces, these handy cables will be your best friends! No longer will you have long, cumbersome strands of alligator clips. These compact jumper cables have a premium male header on one end and a grippy mini alligator clip on the... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3448) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3448/guides) ### Circuit Playground Express - Base Kit [Circuit Playground Express - Base Kit](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3517) It's the **Circuit Playground Express Base Kit!**  It provides the few things you'll need to get started with the new [Circuit Playground Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333). This version of Circuit Playground is super powered, and will... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3517) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3517/guides) ### Circuit Playground Express Advanced Pack [Circuit Playground Express Advanced Pack](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2769) **Circuit Playground Express**  is the next step towards a perfect introduction to electronics and programming. We've taken the original Circuit Playground Classic and made it even better! Not only did we pack even more sensors in, we also made it even easier to program.... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2769) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2769/guides) ## Related Guides - [Adafruit Circuit Playground Express](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-circuit-playground-express.md) - [Automatic Cat Treat Dispenser](https://learn.adafruit.com/automatic-cat-treat-dispenser.md) - [Sparky the Blue Smoke Monster Automaton](https://learn.adafruit.com/sparky-automaton.md) - [LED Shoji Lamp](https://learn.adafruit.com/led-shoji-lamp.md) - [Mystery Box: The Freefall Deck](https://learn.adafruit.com/mystery-box-freefall-deck.md) - [Make a Snow Globe with Circuit Playground Express & MakeCode](https://learn.adafruit.com/make-a-snowglobe-with-circuit-playground-makecode.md) - [Color Spinner Camera Ring Light ](https://learn.adafruit.com/camera-ring-light-with-cpx.md) - [Techno-Tiki RGB LED Torch](https://learn.adafruit.com/techno-tiki-rgb-led-torch.md) - [Circuit Playground Seashell Pendant](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuit-playground-seashell-pendant.md) - [Sipping Power With NeoPixels](https://learn.adafruit.com/sipping-power-with-neopixels.md) - [Circuit Playground + CircuitPython Quickstart Guide](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuit-playground-express-circuitpython-5-minute-guide.md) - [Animatronic Glowing Medusa Headdress](https://learn.adafruit.com/animatronic-glowing-medusa-headdress.md) - [Circuit Playground Express Rocket Lamp](https://learn.adafruit.com/cpx-rocket-lamp.md) - [Fireflies with MakeCode](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuit-playground-fireflies-makecode.md) - [Crickit Carnival Bumper Bot](https://learn.adafruit.com/crickit-carnival-bumper-car-bot.md) - [Sensor Plotting with Mu and CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/sensor-plotting-with-mu-and-circuitpython.md)