Modbus is a serial communications protocol originally published by Modicon (now Schneider Electric) in 1979 for use with its programmable logic controllers (PLCs). Simple and robust, it has since become a de facto standard communication protocol, and it is now a commonly available means of connecting industrial electronic devices. The main reasons for the use of Modbus in the industrial environment are:

• developed with industrial applications in mind
• openly published and royalty-free
• easy to deploy and maintain
• moves raw bits or words without placing many restrictions on vendors