Using the lightning to usb-c cable to drive an external display

No. A Lightning to USB-C cable cannot be used to connect the Lightning port of an iPad to the USB-C connection of an external monitor - at least, not with the intention of using the display of the attached monitor. Read on...

The Lightning to USB-C cable is intended to connect either:

a) a newer model Power Adapter, with a USB-C connector, to the iPad for charging purposes.

b) the USB-C port of a newer PC or Mac computers, to an iPad that has a Lightning port, for synchronising using iTunes/Finder.

If your intention is to connect an iPad with a Lightning port to an external monitor, you must use the Lightning to Digital AV Adapter - and connect using an HDMI cable:

Lightning Digital AV Adapter

https://store.apple.com/uk/xc/product/MD826ZM/A

The 2018/2020 models of iPad Pro - and the new 2020 iPad Air - are able to connect with some external monitors using a direct USB-C connection; if so connected, the iPad drives the attached monitor using the DisplayPort protocol. Alternatively, USB-C equipped models of iPad can connect to a TV or monitor using the appropriate Digital Media Adapter and HDMI:

USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter

https://store.apple.com/uk/xc/product/MUF82ZM/A

I hope this clarification is helpful in resolving any misunderstanding of connection capabilities of your iPad.

USB isn’t just fancy electrical connector. USB, as a technology, is a much more complex system architecture.

The USB architecture requires a USB Host Controller and Root Hub to be present on the “host” device. A simple “cable” connection does not provide these active components.

iOS/iPadOS devices with a Lightning connection do not have a built-in USB Host Controller and Root Hub. The charging cable merely provides an electrical connection between your iPad and Power Adapter. However, when connecting your iPad to a PC/Mac computer, the computer (the “host”) has the required USB Host Controller and Root Hub with which to communicate with the connected iPad/iPhone.

When using an iPad or iPhone as a host device, it is therefore necessary to add the Controller components - and this is the significance of the Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter.

The Camera Adapter is the key to connecting a Lightning equipped iPad or iPhone to other USB devices. The Adapter actively converts the proprietary Apple Lightning interface into a USB host device - and provides the USB Host Controller and Root Hub that are necessary to connect with (and control) USB accessories.

Prior to the introduction of USB-C, USB connections always had a Type-A connection for connecting the “host” device (i.e., the Host Controller) and a Type-B connector for the device being controlled (noting that Type-B connections where physically different to Type-A - and have evolved from Type-B through mini-B and micro-B).

USB-C connections (and system architecture) have again evolved. The physical connectors are now double-sided and bi-directional - and may have the same connector at both ends. Without delving into the complexities of USB-C (of which you’ll find many resources to research yourself), this is probably sufficiently adequate in context of your question.

So, to conclude, your iPad requires the addition of a USB Host Controller and Root Hub with which to communicate/control other USB devices - this functionality being provided by the Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter.

I hope this description and clarification proves to be helpful - both explaining the USB functionality and requirements in basic language.

Returning to my original response, the Lightning to USB-C cable is intended to connect either:

a) a newer model Power Adapter, with a USB-C connector, to the iPad for charging purposes.

b) the USB-C port of a newer PC or Mac computers, to an iPad that has a Lightning port, for synchronising using iTunes/Finder.

The new cable substitutes the USB3 Type-A plug for a USB-C plug - this being suitable for use with newer Power Adapters/Computers that have deprecated physical Type-A for the more compact USB-C connections.