AI overview
Optical fiber is a thin strand of glass or plastic that can carry light signals over long distances, making it useful for transmitting information. It matters because it enables fast, reliable communication networks like the internet and telephone systems.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
A bundle of optical fibers A TOSLINK fiber optic audio cable with red light shining in one end and out the other
An optical fiber, or optical fibre, is a flexible glass or plastic fiber that can transmit light from one end to the other. Such fibers are widely used in fiber-optic communication, where they permit transmission over longer distances and at higher bandwidths (data transfer rates) than electrical cables. Fibers are used instead of cables because signals travel along them with less loss and are immune to electromagnetic interference.