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coaxial cable
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coaxial cable Cutaway illustrations of a multipair cable and a coaxial cable show internal structures, including twisted pairs and shielding, with arrows indicating current flow and labeled electric and magnetic fields. Cross-sectional diagram of a coaxial cable showing solid electric field lines radiating outward and dashed magnetic field lines forming concentric circles, both perpendicular to the direction of electromagnetic wave propagation toward the viewer.
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coax
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coaxial cable
coaxial cable Coaxial cable, consisting of (A) plastic sheathing, (B) outer conductor, (C) dieletric insulator, and (D) inner conductor.

coaxial cable

wire
Also known as: coax
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coaxial cable, Self-shielded cable used for transmission of communications signals, such as those for television, telephone, or computer networks. A coaxial cable consists of two conductors laid concentrically along the same axis. One conducting wire is surrounded by a dielectric insulator, which is in turn surrounded by the other, outer conductor, producing an electrically shielded transmission circuit. The whole cable is wrapped in a protective plastic sheathing. The signal propagates within the dielectric insulator, while the associated current flow is restricted to adjacent surfaces of the inner and outer conductors. As a result, coaxial cable has very low radiation losses and low susceptibility to external interference.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.