The 82C55 is a programmable peripheral interface chip that can interface TTL-compatible I/O devices to microprocessors. It has 24 programmable I/O pins grouped into three ports (A, B, C) and can operate in three modes to control input, output, and handshaking signals. Mode 0 provides simple I/O, mode 1 adds strobed I/O, and mode 2 uses port C for bi-directional port A control. The 82C55 is commonly used to interface keyboards and printers to PCs and can control a stepper motor by energizing its coils in sequence through port groups.