Optical fiber, also known as fiber optics, is a technology that transmits information as light pulses along a glass or plastic fiber. It is a flexible, cylindrical dielectric waveguide that transmits light along its axis through the process of total internal reflection. The fiber consists of a core surrounded by a cladding layer, both of which are made of dielectric materials. Optical fibers are about the diameter of a strand of human hair and when bundled into a fiber-optic cable, they’re capable of transmitting more data over longer distances and faster than other mediums.
Optical fiber is used as a medium for telecommunication and computer networking because it is flexible and can be bundled as cables. It is especially advantageous for long-distance communications, because infrared light propagates through the fiber with much lower attenuation compared to electricity in electrical cables. This allows long distances to be spanned with few repeaters. Optical fiber carries more information than conventional copper wire, due to its higher bandwidth and faster speeds. Because glass does not conduct electricity, fiber optics is not subject to electromagnetic interference that can reduce the speed of transmission.
Optical fiber is used for various applications, including long-distance and high-performance data networking, telecommunication services such as internet, television, and telephones. It is also used in decorative applications, such as plastic fibers carrying colored lights.
