Patch Cord

Apatch cable,patch cordorpatch leadis anelectricaloroptical cableused to connect ("patch in") one electronic or optical device such as aminiature spectrometer to another for signal routing. Devices of different types (e.g., a switch connected to a computer, or a switch to arouter) are connected with patch cords.

Patch cords are usually produced in many different colors so as to be easily distinguishable, and are relatively short, perhaps no longer than ten meters. Types of patch cords includemicrophonecables, fiber opticspectroscopycables,headphoneextension cables,XLR connector,Tiny Telephone (TT) connector,RCA connectorand¼" TRS phone connectorcables (as well asmodularEthernetcables), and thicker, hose-like cords (snake cable) used to carryvideoor amplified signals. However, patch cords typically refer only to short cords used withpatch panels.