Word for the Day Archive

Coaxial Cable

A cable consisting of a conducting outer metal tube shield enclosing and insulated from a central conducting core. Often called coax (pronounced co-ax) for short they are used for high-frequency transmission of telephone, telegraph, television, and digital audio signals. The construction of coaxial cable is designed to keep a distance between the inner conductor and the outer shield, which is one factor in determining the impedance rating of the cable. Impedances often become critically important when transmitting high volumes of data at very high rates (frequencies) and various types of coaxial cable are a common way to do this.