Ethernet Cable Color Code and Types: Complete Information

An Ethernet cable is a category of network cable used to connect devices such as computers, routers, and switches for wired networking. It consists of 8 wires bundled into 4 twisted pairs. The wires are color-coded based on the wiring standard.

The end connector of an Ethernet cable usually adheres to either the T568A or the T568B standard. And depending upon the combination of these connectors at the two ends of a cable, two primary types of Ethernet cables are created — Straight-through and Crossover.

Ethernet RJ45 Cables

There are indeed Ethernet cables in other forms, other than straight and crossover. Rolled, Loopback, and T1 are also types, but you will not find those in typical configurations. Straight-through and Crossover are the two that you will most commonly find. The others are only used in extremely specialized networking situations.

You can also purchase High-Quality Ethernet cables online if you need longer cables, like a 50 ft cable for big rooms or office installations.

These cables are always terminated with RJ45 connectors, which may be wired to T568A or T568B standards. They are essentially the same in electrical characteristics. Whatever you use depends primarily on what the organization wants or what the practice is in the country.

RJ45 (T-568A) Pinout and Color Code

The T568A wiring standard was the most common in the initial years, specifically in the 1990s. Even though it’s being used somewhere, T568B is quite a bit more common today. A key characteristic of T568A is the fact that it’s backward compatible with one-pair and two-pair USOC cabling architecture.

RJ45 (T-568B) Color Code and Pinout

T568B is the one you’ll see most often today. It’s utilized since it is slightly more noise immune than T568A, which separates signals more. It’s backward compatible with one-pair USOC wiring but not two-pair like T568A.

Below is the pinout diagram for T568B: Types of Ethernet Cables

Types of Ethernet Cables

As mentioned above, based on whether you use the same or different standards at both ends of a cable, two general types of Ethernet cables are manufactured: Straight-through and Crossover cables.

There are Ethernet cables such as Rolled, Loopback, and T1, but they are primarily used for particular network configurations. Straight and Crossover are the ones you’ll use on a daily basis.

If you do go ahead and purchase a longer Ethernet cable, such as 50 feet, there are very high-quality cables out on the Internet that have good signal integrity even across long cables.

Straight-Through Cables

A Straight-through cable uses the identical standard on one side of the cable as well as the opposite side — T568A → T568A or T568B → T568B.

This type of cable is used in connecting various kinds of devices, such as:

Computer to switch

Modem to router

Laptop to hub

Straight-through cables are most typical, and you will be using them most in typical networking configurations.

Pinout: Both sides share the same wiring standard (A-A or B-B).

Crossover Cables

In a Crossover cable, one end is wired as T568A and the other as T568B. Because of this, some transmit and receive pairs are inverted.

Crossover cables are employed when you have to link the same devices, for instance:

Laptop to laptop

Switch to switch

Router to router

Pinout: Both ends have a different wiring standard (A-B).

The diagram normally illustrates how the 4 sets of wires overlap each other within the cable to facilitate communication between similar devices.

Comparison Table: