Molex connector is the vernacular term for a two-piece "pin and socket" interconnection, most frequently disk drive connectors. Pioneered by Molex Products Company, the two-piece design became an early electronic standard. Molex developed and patented the first examples of this connector style in the late 1950s and early 1960s. First used in home appliances, other industries soon began designing it into their products from automobiles to vending machines to 
mini-computers.
In such a connector, cylindrical spring-metal pins fit into cylindrical spring-metal sockets. The pins and sockets are held in a rectangular matrix in a nylon shell. The connector typically has 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, or 15 circuits. Pins and sockets can be arranged in any combination in a single connector, and each housing can be either male or female.
There are three typical pin sizes: 1.57mm (.062" or 1/16"), 2.36mm (.093" or 3/32"), and 2.13mm (.084"). The 1.57mm pin can carry 5A of current, while the 2.36mm can carry 8.5A. Because the pins have a large contact surface area and fit tightly, these connectors are typically used for power.
This style of connector was first used as a computer disk drive connector in the late 1970s, initially on the Shugart floppy disk drive as well as Atari (1979) on its path to becoming a de facto standard. It is in this role, that the vernacular term "molex connector" is most frequently used. AMP (now a division of Tyco International) developed the Mate-n-lok .084 pin connector that was used on many of these disk drives. This interconnection configuration is now the established standard for disk drive power connectors.
In 20/24 pin configurations, the Mini-Fit Jr. connector may be used on ATX motherboards as the main power connector. 4, 6 and 8 pin configurations of the same style of connector are used for additional CPU power and graphics card power. This is changing as power, signal and speed requirements increase in sophistication and electronic requirements. More commonly, the Mini-Fit, Jr. can be found in consumer applications, such as white goods, requiring high density and high current.
These connectors are polarised so that they cannot be inserted incorrectly, and lock into position using a latch.
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