What type of cable is typically used for Ethernet connections?

Twisted pair cable is the standard type of cable used for Ethernet connections because it effectively reduces electromagnetic interference and crosstalk between the wires. This design consists of pairs of insulated copper wires twisted together, which helps to maintain signal integrity over longer distances compared to other cable types. There are two main categories of twisted pair cables commonly used for Ethernet: Category 5e (Cat 5e) and Category 6 (Cat 6), both of which support fast data rates necessary for networking applications.

Coaxial cables, though historically used for Ethernet in earlier networking technologies, are less common today for standard Ethernet connections. Fiber optic cables offer high-speed data transmission over longer distances and are used in environments that require high bandwidth, but they are not the typical choice for standard Ethernet connections in most local area networks (LANs). Serial cables, on the other hand, are primarily used for point-to-point communication between devices, rather than for networking. Therefore, twisted pair cable stands out as the most suitable and commonly employed cable type for Ethernet connections.