What type of port allows for hot swapping and is most commonly used to connect external hard drives?

The correct type of port that allows for hot swapping and is most commonly used to connect external hard drives is eSATA. eSATA stands for external Serial Advanced Technology Attachment, and it is specifically designed for connecting external hard drives while maintaining high-speed data transfer rates similar to internal SATA drives. One of the primary features of eSATA is its ability to support hot swapping, which means that devices can be connected or disconnected without shutting down the system.

While other ports like USB and FireWire also support hot swapping and can connect external drives, eSATA is specifically optimized for external storage with a focus on achieving the performance levels of internal connections. Thunderbolt also allows for hot swapping and connects various devices, including external storage, but is less common specifically for external hard drives compared to eSATA. Hence, eSATA stands out for its dedicated purpose and efficient performance in this scenario.