An Ethernet cable is a common type of network cable used with wired networks. Ethernet cables connect devices such as PCs, routers, and switches within a local area network.
Which Ethernet cable should I use? Cat5? Cat6? Cat7?
These physical cables are limited by length and durability. If a network cable is too long or of poor quality, it will not transmit a good network signal. These limitations are one reason that there are different types of Ethernet cables that are optimized to perform certain tasks in specific situations.
An Ethernet cable looks like a traditional telephone cable, but is larger and has more wires. Both cables have a similar shape and connector, but an Ethernet cable has eight wires, while telephone cables have four. Ethernet cable connectors are also larger.
Ethernet cables come in many different colors, but telephone cables are usually gray.
