Editing 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (section)

==Transporter types==
Almost all Starfleet facilities and starships were equipped with at least one transporter device. The number of transporter devices differed; for example, most shuttlecraft had one transporter while ShipClass|Galaxy starships had twenty. (TNG|11001001) 

When cargo bays were present, these often contained cargo transporters.

The visual effects of transporter beams varied among the types used by different species of the galaxy, and the different models of transporter.

23rd century Federation transporters during the 2260s showed a shower of golden "sparkles" during materialization and dematerialization. Klingon units during the same time emitted a solid golden "haze" effect.

Image:Regula1transporter.jpg|thumb|left|2280s transporter
By the 2280s, both races utilized transporters that appeared to utilize a "wave" effect. The Federation's being blue and the Klingons with golden yellow. 

24th century Federation transporters emit a distinct blue/white "sparkle" when used.  Klingon transporters show a red/orange sparkle and Romulan transporters a green sparkle. Cardassian and Ferengi showed red/orange "swirls" of energy. Borg showed green "swirls" of energy.

Another difference was the speed by which a transporter operates. Compared to transporters used by the Hunters, a Gamma Quadrant species, in 2369, the Federation transporter was slow. (DS9|Captive Pursuit) Ferengi transporters were even slower because they used capacitors to build up their beam energy. (TNG|The Battle)

Furthermore, each type of transporter beam had a distinctive sound pattern associated with it. Along with differences in "tone," the volume of the sound also varied.  Klingon transporters in the 2260s, for example, were completely silent.

Production of Mark V transporters was halted in 2356. By 2371, Mark VI transporters were considered outdated. Mark VII transporters were able to transport biomatter, as long as the phase transition inhibitor was adjusted. (DS9|Family Business)

===Personnel===

The most commonly used type of transporter was the personnel transporter, designed primarily for personnel.

Personnel transporter rooms usually consisted of a transporter console, a transporter platform with an overhead molecular imaging scanner, primary energizing coils, and phase transition coils. 

A pattern buffer with a biofilter is located on the deck below the room. The outer hull of a starship incorporated a number of emitter pads for the transporter beam. 

Personnel transporters work on the quantum level and employ Heisenberg compensators to enable secure transport of lifeforms. Biofilters built into the transporter systems prevent dangerous microorganisms from boarding the ship.

Transporter platforms had a variable number of pads, arranged in various layouts (by model and by manufacturing race): 

The transporters installed on Earth's NX-class starships featured one large circular pad that took up the entire platform. It was large enough to transport 2-3 people provided they stood close together. 

By the 23rd century, Federation transporter platforms featured multiple independent pads, typically six in a hexagonal configuration. One- and two-pad platforms were also available. 

This would become something of a standard layout for Federation transporters well into the next century. As an example, the platforms used on board Galaxy starships had the familiar six individual pads with an oversized pad in the center of the platform that could handle small cargo.

The model of transporter installed on board Defiant starships featured a  circle platform and three personnel pads in a triangular formation. 

Some 23rd century Klingon platforms featured 6 hexagonal pads in a straight line. Others, such as those on Birds of Prey, featured a small number of platforms in a tight group. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home; Star trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

Cardassian transporter pads in the 24th century featured three to five triangular pads placed close together, such as those installed on Deep Space 9. 

The personnel transporter was a reliable but sometimes fragile piece of equipment.  The phase coils in particular were vulnerable to feedback patterns and could be severely damaged as result of power surges or low-level phaser fire.

===Cargo===
Image:Galaxy cargobay.jpg|thumb|left|A cargo transporter aboard a ''Galaxy''-class starship
Cargo transporters were larger scale versions of personnel transporters and were optimized for the transport of inanimate objects.  

In case of an emergency, cargo transporters could be reset to quantum-level mode, making lifeform transport possible. These transporters were adapted to handle massive quantities of material. (TNG|Up The Long Ladder)

Cargo transporters were also specialized for transporting hazardous material and were mostly found inside the cargo bay of a starship or space station. (TNG|Evolution)

Dedicated cargo transporter platforms used by Starfleet in the 24th century typically featured one large circular or oblong pad. Some had additional standard-size "personal" pads as well.

===Emergency===

Emergency transporters are a special type that can only beam someone ''from'' a ship or space station, not the other way around. Emergency transporters have a low power requirement; in case of a shipwide power failure, the crew could use these transporters for emergency evacuation. (TNG Technical Manual)

:''In older technical manuals and other non-canon background materials, these are sometimes referred to as "evacuation" transporters or "combat" transporters.  Typically, they are said to be platforms with a dozen or more pads each.  In addition to emergency evacuation, they are used in ''any'' high-volume movement of personnel, such as in troop deployment.''

By the late 24th century, emergency transport was further improved through development of a single-person, single-use, one-way emergency transport unit.  The device was small enough to be hand-held and could transport to specified coordinates with a single touch.  

Because of its extreme limitations, this device was not widely deployed and was still considered a prototype in 2379. (Star Trek: Nemesis)

===Non-"beam" transporters===
Image:Spatial trajector.jpg|thumb|The spatial trajector, an example of a non-beam transporter
Certain species have experimented with transporters that differ in technology and theory than those used by most species encountered by the Federation.  

The Sikarians were known to use a folded-space transporter, relying on dimensional shifting rather than matter-to-energy conversion.  Similarly, the Iconians perfected their own form of transport known as Iconian gateway|gateways which were capable of near instantaneous transport over vast distances.  (VOY|Prime Factors; TNG|Contagion)

===Other transporters===
*Folded-space transporter
*Multidimensional transporter device
*Sub-quantum teleportation
*Temporal transporter
*Translocator