A fiber optic cable is a type of network cable that contains strands of glass fibers inside an insulated casing. These fibers are used to carry light, which transmits information as light pulses along a glass or plastic fiber. The cable is composed of two layers of glass: the core, which carries the actual light signal, and the cladding, which is a layer of glass surrounding the core. The cladding has a lower refractive index than the core, which causes total internal reflection within the core.
Fiber optic cables are designed for long-distance communication and are capable of transmitting information across countries and oceans. They are used mainly for their advantages over traditional copper wire networks, including higher bandwidth, faster speeds, and resistance to electromagnetic interference.
There are two main types of fiber optic cables: single-mode fiber (SMF) and multi-mode fiber (MMF). SMF has a very narrow core, which allows for longer distances due to the smaller diameter of the glass fiber core. This smaller diameter lessens the possibility for attenuation, which is a reduction in signal strength. The smaller opening isolates the light into a single beam, offering a more direct route and enabling the signal to travel a longer distance. MMF, on the other hand, has a much wider core, allowing multiple modes (or “rays”) of light to propagate.
