Cat- 5 is a short form for category 5 cables that are used for to connect different computers to the LAN. These types of cables enclose four pairs of twisted copper wires terminated by RJ45 connectors.

1. Cat 5 Cables: Their Definition, Types and Implications
Cat-5 cables also known as Ethernet cables are a type of Category 5 cables that are used
for computer networks. Computers that are connected to LAN are coupled using a Cat-5
cable; so the wire that runs out of your computer to connect you to LAN is a Cat 5 cable.
These wires are usually unshielded and contain a four pairs of twisted copper wires
terminated by RJ45 connectors. These wires are usually more expensive than the other
Category cables. This is because they have far less issues of hindrance with other
electronic devices as compared to the other Category wires.
The Cat 5 cables come in two main varieties, stranded and solid:
Stranded Cat 5 cables: A stranded Cat 5 cable is flexible and is appropriate for short
distance cabling. These wires are also used for movable cabling like on-the-fly patch
cabling.
Solid Cat 5 cables: Unlike stranded Cat 5 cables, solid Cat 5 cables are used for long
distance cabling. These cables are best suited for preset wire arrangements like in an
office building.
The existing set is an intervening one, which is called Cat 5a or Cat 5e. This type is an
improved edition of Cat 5 cables used for Gigabit (1000 Megabits per second) data
transmission. It has various enhanced features like superior shielding, made to better-
quality tolerances and has considerable lessening in cross talk and between-line
obstructions. If you have recently wired your net ability in the previous three to four
years, chances are that the wire is Cat 5a.
The outer covering of a Cat 5 cable can be of different colors, bright blue being the most
common type. The twisted copper wires also come in different colors which are usually
bright. Cat-5 cable is obtainable in all the places where cables or wires are sold like
electronics shops, home improvement centers, and computer outlets. Now-a-days it is
also commonly accessible in online stores.
Because a Cat 3 cable can only carry data at the speed of 10 megabits, now-a-days Cat 5
cables are mostly used instead of Cat 3 cables due to their feature of carrying data at
the speed of up to 100 mbps or more. Amongst all the Cat-5 cables, there are three
diverse configurations for pinouts, or cabling of the RJ-45 connectors. The three

2. different pinouts are referred to as straight through, crossover and roll-over. A variety of
network devices make use of one of these three types of pinouts.