Understanding Fiber Optic Cabling Terminology

Fiber optics plays a vital role in high-speed communications, and understanding the terminology is key to designing, specifying, and installing the right solution. This tutorial section breaks down the common terms used across fiber optic cable products so you can work confidently with multimode, singlemode, and everything in between.

Whether you’re dealing with backbone infrastructure or patching inside a rack, you’ll get clear explanations of connector types, cable constructions, transmission standards, and more.

• Fiber Types & Modes – OM1, OM3, OM4, OS2 — learn how each is used and what distances they support.
• Connector Styles – LC, SC, ST, MTP/MPO — understand common endface types and where they’re used.
• Polarity & Gender – Master cable routing with clear definitions of key alignment and connection schemes.
• Cable Constructions – Tight-buffered, loose-tube, breakout, ribbon — what they mean and when to use them.
• Performance Specs – Attenuation, return loss, core size, jacket ratings — and why they matter.

This glossary is your quick-start guide to fiber optic terminology — perfect for installers, engineers, and purchasing teams who want clarity without the confusion.