Fiber optic cables and Ethernet cables are two of the most important data transfer cable standards there are, but with their use cases often crossing paths, it’s important to know the differences.

The fiber connector types, sometimes referred to as terminations, link fiber optic cables together through terminals, switches, adapters, and patch panels, by bridging the gap between their internal glass fibers that transmit the data down the length of the cable.

There are two main types of fiber optic cables: single mode and multimode. Although they can do the same job in some instances, the different construction methods make each of them better suited to certain tasks and budgets.

Both fiber optic and copper network cables are common in the enterprise, but what is the difference between a fiber optic vs. copper cable? Read on to learn more.