Patch cable

Updated: 04/26/2017 by Computer Hope

An electronic cable used to connect electronic devices to enable the transmission of data between them. There are many different patch cables, including microphone, headphone extension, RCA connectors, Ethernet, and fiber optic. However, when the term patch cable is used, it often refers to short cables used in a patch panel.

Patch cables can be as short as three inches or longer that a hundred feet. Cat 5, Cat 5e, and Cat 6 Ethernet cables are common examples, used to connect computers together in a network and network servers.

Network terms, Patch panel