What are the two main kinds of fiber-optic cable?

The two main kinds of fiber-optic cable are single-mode and multimode. Single-mode fiber is designed to carry light directly down the fiber without much reflection, allowing for higher bandwidth and longer distances, typically used in long-distance telecommunications. It has a smaller core diameter, which only allows one mode of light to propagate.

In contrast, multimode fiber has a larger core diameter and allows multiple modes of light to travel down the fiber simultaneously. This is ideal for short-distance applications, such as within a building or campus, where high data rates over short distances are required. This type of fiber is generally less expensive than single-mode fiber and can be easier to work with in certain scenarios.

The other choices identify types of cables that do not fall under the category of fiber-optic technology. Coaxial and twisted pair cables are more traditional cabling types used for electrical signals, primarily in networking and telecommunications, but they do not utilize fiber optics. Similarly, while a hybrid cable can exist, it typically refers to cables that combine different types of conductors, but the primary classification for fiber-optic cables remains single-mode and multimode. Ribbon fiber, although a type of fiber optic cable that contains multiple fibers in a flat ribbon-like configuration, is considered