Electrical connector

Components of an <a href="/facts/Electrical_circuit/zt94kTW0">electrical circuit</a> are electrically connected if an <a href="/facts/Electric_current/Dc1xdnUX">electric current</a> can run between them through an <a href="/facts/Electrical_conductor/BSuyupLP">electrical conductor</a>. An electrical connector is an <a href="/facts/Electromechanical/0D5gkXko">electromechanical</a> device used to create an electrical connection between parts of an electrical circuit, or between different electrical circuits, thereby joining them into a larger circuit.
The connection may be removable (as for portable equipment), require a tool for assembly and removal, or serve as a permanent electrical joint between two points. An <a href="/facts/Adapter/R8HQ1Hnx">adapter</a> can be used to join dissimilar connectors. Most electrical connectors have a <a href="/facts/Gender_of_connectors_and_fasteners/7azbLzKp">gender</a> – i.e. the male component, called a plug, connects to the female component, or socket.
Thousands of configurations of connectors are manufactured for <a href="/facts/Power_cord/QbwEE6kN">power</a>, <a href="/facts/Data_(computing)/cPjfFHph">data</a>, and <a href="/facts/Audiovisual/7BPs5I28">audiovisual</a> applications. Electrical connectors can be divided into four basic categories, differentiated by their function:

<ul><li>inline or cable connectors permanently attached to a cable, so it can be plugged into another <a href="/facts/Terminal_(electronics)/CwbKGSuB">terminal</a> (either a stationary instrument or another cable)</li>
<li>Chassis or panel connectors permanently attached to a piece of equipment so users can connect a cable to a stationary device</li>
<li>PCB mount connectors soldered to a <a href="/facts/Printed_circuit_board/muSR2p43">printed circuit board</a>, providing a point for <a href="/facts/Electrical_cable/Dhzlz5hn">cable</a> or <a href="/facts/Wire/yyy05H1S">wire</a> attachment.: 56  (e.g. <a href="/facts/Pin_header/dnsYKYpn">pin headers</a>, <a href="/facts/Screw_terminal/C0MnmsDL">screw terminals</a>, <a href="/facts/Board-to-board_connector/hRY3eN6W">board-to-board connectors</a>)</li>
<li>Splice or butt connectors (primarily <a href="/facts/Insulation_displacement_connector/AUbBoRM4">insulation displacement connectors</a>) that permanently join two lengths of wire or cable</li></ul>
In computing, electrical connectors are considered a physical interface and constitute part of the <a href="/facts/Physical_layer/WuATCrVw">physical layer</a> in the <a href="/facts/OSI_model/oxN9Xhjz">OSI model</a> of networking.

Electrical connector open-in-new

Electrical connector