Wire and Cable

Wires and cables are an omnipresent part of computing and electronics. They provide power and signal connectivity between systems or within a system. Cables and wires can connect to a system via a connector or header, or cables can connect to other cables. Important cable specifications include connector type, length, the number of conductors, shielding (if any), and power rating.
There are several very common categories of cable available today. Coaxial (or coax) cables are used for high-speed digital and RF signal transmission. Universal Serial Bus (USB) cables are extremely popular for connecting peripherals to computers and other consumer electronics. Ethernet cables are used for implementing wired local area networks (LANs). Flat flex cables are multi-conductor cables used within a system to provide connectivity. Fiber optic cables carry light wave signals instead of voltages and are used for very high throughput data transmission.
Cable accessories are useful to help manage a plethora of cables. Cable clamps and clips, along with cable ties and wiring ducts, can help bring order to a messy group of cables routing together. Cable markers and conductor marking collars can help distinguish similar cables within a group.