The process of enabling USB On-The-Go functionality on Android devices allows them to act as USB hosts. This enables the connection of peripheral devices such as flash drives, keyboards, mice, and even some external hard drives directly to the Android device without requiring a computer as an intermediary. Functionality depends on both hardware support from the Android device and software configuration to initiate the host mode.
This capability significantly expands the functionality of Android devices. Benefits include easy access to external storage, improved input methods through external keyboards and mice, and the ability to connect to specialized USB devices. Historically, it offered a workaround for devices with limited internal storage or cumbersome file transfer methods. It is particularly useful in situations where access to a computer is unavailable or inconvenient.