Each pattern has advantages and disadvantages when it comes to recording certain types of sound. The pickup pattern of a microphone determines the direction that the mic receives and records a signal.
Each type records sound differently using specific polar patterns. You can usually find three kinds of USB mics: cardioid microphones, omnidirectional microphones, and figure-8 microphones. You can begin recording without any additional pieces of recording equipment. The addition of these circuits makes it possible to plug a USB mic directly into a desktop computer or tablet. But a USB mic contains two additional circuits that allow it to record using devices like a computer or tablet: an onboard preamp and an analog-to-digital converter.
Just like a traditional microphone, a USB mic has components like a capsule and a diaphragm.