A connector is a device that terminates a segment of cabling or provides a point of entry for networking devices such as computers, hubs, and routers.
What is a Connector (device)?
A device that terminates a segment of cabling or provides a point of entry for networking devices such as computers, hubs, and routers. Connectors can be distinguished according to their physical appearance and mating properties, such as jacks and plugs (male connectors) or sockets and ports (female connectors).
They can also be distinguished by their different pinning configurations, such as DB9 and DB15 connectors, which have 9 and 15 pins, respectively.
In addition, connectors are distinguished by the kind of electrical interfaces they support. Examples of different types of connectors include:
- Connectors for serial interfaces, such as RS-232 and V.35
- Ethernet connectors, such as RJ-45 and BNC connectors
- Fiber-optic cabling connectors, such as SC and ST connectors
There are literally dozens of types of connectors used in networking, and the networking professional needs to be familiar with many of them. The illustration shows some of the common connector types used in different aspects of networking and telecommunications.
See also
You should read the article for the connector type you are looking for:
- BNC Connector
- DB Connectors (DB9, DB15, DB25, DB37 and DB50)
- V series connectors (V.35, V.24, M/50)
- RJ connectors (RJ-11, RJ-12, RJ-45))
- Fiber-optic connectors (ST/SC)
- SCSI connectors (SCSI-1, SCSI-2, SCSI-3, SCSI-5)
