Battery Charging 1.2, commonly shortened to BC 1.2, is a USB-IF specification that predates USB Power Delivery. It defines how a USB port can indicate to a connected device that more current than the basic USB data specification allows is available for charging.
BC 1.2 introduced concepts such as the dedicated charging port, a port used only for power with no data connection, and the charging downstream port, a data port that also offers extra current. This is the technology behind many simple USB wall chargers and car chargers that predate modern Power Delivery adapters.
Many devices and chargers still support BC 1.2 alongside newer standards for backward compatibility, which is why an older charger without any Power Delivery branding can often still charge a modern phone, just without the higher speeds a PD or Quick Charge negotiation would unlock. See our USB charger guide for more context.
