Fibre Mode
Fibre mode identifies whether an optical link uses single-mode or multimode fibre.
These fibre types have different optical structures and transmission characteristics. The fibre and transceivers need a compatible combination; a shared connector shape does not make them interchangeable.
Fibre Mode — SFP Ethernet Cable
For an SFP Ethernet link, the module specification determines which fibre type is supported for the intended connection. Single-mode and multimode describe the optical medium, not whether the network can send data in both directions.
Compare fibre mode along with wavelength, data rate and supported distance on both ends. Do not select fibre solely by connector colour or the presence of LC fittings. A single-mode designation does not mean only one physical strand is used, and multimode does not describe several independent network links.