What Is an RJ45 Cable?

An RJ45 cable is primarily used to connect devices over an Ethernet connection. For
example, computers, printers, network storage devices, and cable or DSL modems, are
some devices capable of using an RJ45 connection. Being able to identify an RJ45 cable
is important when attempting to connect devices to a network.

Types of RJ45 Cables

There are two types of RJ45 cables in everyday use: standard patch cables and
crossover cables.

The standard patch cable may be used, for example, to connect a computer to a network
router/switch, or to connect a cable modem to a router/switch.

The crossover cable is most often used to connect two computers directly without the use
of a router or switch.

These cables look identical; the only difference is the termination of the wiring in the
cable's plug. Unknowingly using a crossover cable when a standard patch cable is needed
probably will not cause damage to the network components--the devices merely won't
form a connection.

Uses
RJ45 technology is frequently used in home and business networking contexts to connect
multiple computers both to each other and to the Internet. Additional network-capable
devices can also be attached using RJ45 cables. For example, an office may connect a
laser printer to its network using RJ45 cables, thus allowing anyone connected to the
network to print to the shared printer. Rather than maintaining an expensive computer
server, a company may opt to connect a NAS device (network-attached storage) to a
network using an RJ45 cable, thus allowing other users connected to the network to
access files stored on the NAS device.

Competing Technology
RJ45 cables are popular choices for most networking needs. Fiber optic technology,
however, is a more expensive option that allows for greater speed than RJ45 cables.
Wireless technology allows devices to be networked, as well. However, wireless
technology has two major faults and prevents the technology from directly competing
with RJ45 cables. First, data cannot be transmitted as quickly over wireless connections
as it can be through an RJ45 cable. Second, wireless technology has the potential to
expose data transmitted over the airwaves to persons with devices capable of "listening"
to data transmitted wirelessly; to access communications over a network exclusively
using RJ45, a person would need physical access to the network.

Appearance of an RJ45 Cable

Photo courtesy of Piotr Kuczyński on Wikimedia Commons

An RJ45 cable consists of a length of cable with a male modular plug crimped to each
end of the cable. The male plugs have 8 flat conductor contacts placed parallel to the
connector body. When the male plug is connected to the female socket, the conductors
meet and create an electrical connection.

Caution
The male plug of an RJ45 cable looks similar to a standard telephone cable in the United
States because both cables use modular connectors. The RJ45 cable is larger than a
standard telephone cable. Attempting to plug a telephone cable into an RJ45 female
socket can damage the connectors in the socket.