Here’s a glossary of Cables & Leads terms and abbreviations, covering consumer, professional, and industrial applications. This is designed as a master reference for retailers, installers, technicians, and electronics enthusiasts.
🔌 CABLES & LEADS GLOSSARY
A
AC Cable (Alternating Current Cable) – Cable carrying AC power.
Adaptor / Adapter Lead – Cable or device connecting two incompatible interfaces.
AWG (American Wire Gauge) – Standard for measuring wire diameter.
Audio Cable – Cable transmitting audio signals (analog or digital).
Ampacity – Maximum current a cable can safely carry.
B
Balanced Cable – Audio cable with three conductors reducing noise (XLR, TRS).
Braided Shield – Woven wire shield protecting signal from interference.
Bandwidth – Frequency range a cable can carry effectively.
Bulk Cable – Cable sold in lengths, cut to size.
Breakout Cable – Cable splitting a multi-conductor cable into individual connections.
C
Coaxial Cable (Coax) – Cable with central conductor, dielectric, shield, and outer jacket, used for video, RF, or broadband.
Cat5 / Cat5e / Cat6 / Cat6a / Cat7 / Cat8 – Ethernet/network cable standards.
Conductor – Material inside cable carrying electrical signal (copper, aluminum).
Cross-talk – Interference between adjacent conductors.
Connector / Lead End – Terminated end of a cable for plugging into devices.
D
Digital Audio Cable – Cable transmitting audio digitally (SPDIF, AES/EBU, Toslink).
Display Cable – HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, VGA cables transmitting video signals.
Drop Cable – Cable from main line to end user in telecom.
E
Ethernet Cable – Cable connecting network devices, following Cat standards.
Elastic / Flexible Lead – Cable designed to bend without breaking, often for portable devices.
Electrical Lead – Wire connecting a power source to a device.
F
Fire-Resistant Cable / FR Cable – Cable designed to resist fire spread.
Flat Cable – Ribbon-style cable with multiple parallel conductors.
Ferrite Core / Bead – Reduces electromagnetic interference (EMI) on cable.
G
Ground / Earth Conductor – Cable for safety grounding.
Gauge / Wire Gauge – Measurement of wire diameter.
Gold-Plated Connector – Provides corrosion resistance and improved conductivity.
H
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) – Cable transmitting high-definition audio/video.
Hybrid Cable – Combines multiple signal types (power + data, fiber + copper).
Hook-Up Wire – Small gauge wire for internal electronics or prototyping.
I
Industrial Cable – Heavy-duty cable for factory or outdoor use.
Insulation – Non-conductive material surrounding cable conductors.
Interconnect / Patch Cable – Short cable connecting devices in audio, video, or network systems.
J
Jacket / Sheath – Outer protective covering of cable.
Jumbo Cable / Large Diameter Lead – Thick cable for high current applications.
K
Kelvin Lead / 4-Wire Lead – Cable configuration for precise resistance measurements.
Keystone Jack / Modular Connector – Standardized connector used in structured cabling.
L
LAN Cable – Cable for local area network connectivity (Ethernet).
Low Voltage Cable – Cable designed for <50V DC or AC applications.
Lightning Cable – Apple proprietary cable for charging and data transfer.
Litz Wire – Multi-strand wire reducing skin effect at high frequencies.
M
Micro USB / USB-C Cable – Cables for data and charging portable devices.
Multicore Cable – Cable with multiple insulated conductors inside one jacket.
Moisture-Resistant Cable – Cable designed to prevent water ingress.
N
Network Cable / Data Cable – Cable for digital communication.
Noise Immunity / Shielded Cable – Cable resistant to interference.
Non-Conductive Cable – Insulated for safety in high-voltage or telecom applications.
O
Optical Fiber / Fiber Optic Cable – Transmits data as pulses of light.
Outdoor Cable – UV-resistant and waterproof for external installation.
Overmolded Connector / Cable – Connector sealed with molded plastic for durability.
P
Patch Lead / Patch Cord – Short cable connecting devices in a rack, panel, or patchbay.
Power Cable / Mains Lead – Cable supplying AC power to appliances.
Plenum Cable – Fire-rated cable for air handling spaces in buildings.
Pigtail / Jumper Lead – Short cable used to connect two terminals or devices.
PVC / Polyvinyl Chloride Jacket – Common cable insulation material.
Q
Quad Cable / Quad Conductor – Cable with four conductors, used in speaker wiring.
Quality Cable / High-Performance Lead – Designed for low loss, high fidelity, or professional applications.
R
RJ45 / RJ11 Cable – Connectors for Ethernet (RJ45) and telephone (RJ11).
RF Cable / Radio Frequency Cable – Coaxial cable for transmitting RF signals.
Resistance / Impedance – Electrical property affecting signal transmission.
Ribbon Cable / Flat Flexible Cable (FFC) – Parallel conductors for internal connections.
S
Shielded / Unshielded Cable – Shielded reduces EMI; unshielded is simpler and cheaper.
Speaker Cable – Low-resistance cable designed for audio speakers.
Serial Cable / RS232 / RS485 – Cables for serial communication.
Subwoofer Cable / Low-Frequency Lead – Specialized audio cable for bass speakers.
Signal Cable – Transmits data, video, or audio signals.
T
Twisted Pair Cable – Conductors twisted to reduce electromagnetic interference (Cat5/6).
Telephone Cable / POTS Lead – Cable for analog telephony.
Tinned Copper Wire / Lead – Copper coated with tin to prevent corrosion.
Terminal / Crimp Connector – End connection for cables to devices or boards.
U
USB Cable – Universal Serial Bus cable for data and power.
UTP / STP Cable – Unshielded / Shielded twisted pair for networking.
Underground Cable / Burial Cable – Cable suitable for direct ground installation.
V
Voltage Rating / Insulation Rating – Maximum voltage a cable can safely carry.
Video Cable – HDMI, VGA, component, composite, or SDI cables.
VGA Cable / Lead – Analog video cable for monitors and projectors.
W
Wi-Fi / Wireless Bridge Cable – Connects wireless access points when wired backhaul is used.
Wire / Conductor – Material (usually copper) carrying electrical current.
Wattage Rating – Maximum power cable can safely handle.
Weatherproof Cable – Cable rated for outdoor conditions.
X
XLR Cable – Balanced audio cable for microphones and professional audio.
XLR Connector – 3-pin or multi-pin connector used in audio and lighting.
Y
Y-Splitter / Y-Lead – Cable splitting one source into two destinations.
Yellow Jacket Cable – Often identifies specific function or voltage in cabling.
Z
Zero-Ohm Link / Jumper Lead – Wire used as a shorting link in electronics.
Zip / Flat Cable – Flexible ribbon or “zip” cable for internal wiring.
Published 17th Feb. 2026