What is Fiber Optic Patch Cord and Pigtail?

Fiber Optic Patch Cord

Fiber optic patch cords (also known as fiber optic connectors) are short fiber optic cables equipped with fiber optic connectors at both ends, used to connect network devices or fiber optic cabling links. The connectors at both ends of the patch cord can be types such as SC, LC, ST, MTP/MPO, etc., facilitating flexible plug-and-play and rapid deployment. They are widely used in scenarios like data centers, communication rooms, local area networks, and fiber-to-the-home to enable optical signal transmission between devices.

Pigtail

A fiber optic pigtail (also known as a pigtail cable) is a fiber optic cable with a connector on one end and an exposed fiber end face on the other. Pigtails are typically used inside fiber optic termination boxes, where they connect to other cables via fusion splicing to extend and connect fiber optic networks. They are commonly employed to link cables to fiber optic transceivers and are frequently found in fiber optic distribution frames, termination boxes, and fiber access networks.

Key Differences

● Fiber Patch Cords: Feature connectors at both ends for direct device connection, ideal for rapid and flexible deployment.

● Fiber Pigtails: Have connectors only at one end, requiring fusion splicing at the other end, suitable for stable, long-term fiber connections.

Both types come in single-mode and multi-mode variants, with selection based on transmission distance and application requirements.