In this post, let’s learn about cords! There are so many different cords in the computing world and they can get confusing. Let’s take a look at many of the various cords! For the record, we often use the term “cord” and the term “cable” interchangeably. In this post, I primarily call them cords.
Ethernet Cord
Ethernet cords look similar to the basic telephone cords that connect our landlines to the plugs usually mounted on the wall (RJ11). However, the plugs on the ends of Ethernet cords are just slightly wider. These cords fit into an RJ45 port. You’ll find these ports on modems, routers, some printers, and some computers. When you use an Ethernet cord between your device and a modem/router, you connect to the Internet via a cable (cord). (As an aside, click or tap HERE to learn the proper pronunciation of the word “Ethernet.”)
USB Printer Cord
Granted, today more and more printers run wirelessly. However, at this point, almost all printers still have a USB port that can be used to connect directly to a computer. (As mentioned above, some printers also have an Ethernet port.) Unfortunately, wireless printers tend to come off their wireless networks from time to time. When that happens, it’s good to have a USB printer cord like the one shown above. (If you’re a Remote Technical Support customer of ours, using a cord is often the only way we can remotely get your printer back on your wireless network.)
Let’s Learn About Cords – HDMI Cords
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) cords transmit both audio and video. You might use one of these to connect your computer to your TV so that you can watch a movie on a larger screen rather than your computer. There are two different sizes of HDMI cords. The other size is called a mini HDMI and is used on a limited number of devices.
USB-C Cords
If you have an Android phone or tablet, you’re familiar with a USB-C cord. If you’re an iPhone or iPad user, you will get to know this type of cord because Apple is going that way, too. If you want to learn about USB-C ports and cords, you’ll find lots of good information in my post from April 2019: “What’s That Small Port On My New Computer?”
There are a lot of variations of the USB-C cord. Two of them are in the picture above.