Jacket Material
Jacket material identifies the outer protective covering of a cable.
It is separate from the signal conductors, optical fibre and any internal shielding or insulation. Different layers can use different materials.
Jacket Material — Ethernet Cable
On an Ethernet cable, the jacket protects the internal cable assembly during handling and installation. Its material can be relevant to flexibility and the environment in which the cable is intended to be used.
Compare any stated installation rating and environmental suitability separately from the material name. A jacket material alone does not establish an Ethernet category, supported data rate or permission for concealed building installation. Decorative outer braiding may also differ from the underlying protective jacket.
Jacket Material — Optical Cable
On an optical audio cable, the jacket surrounds and protects the fibre assembly. It should be considered alongside the cable’s bend limits and connector strain relief when planning a route behind equipment.
Compare stated handling and environmental limits rather than inferring them from appearance. The jacket material does not identify whether the fibre core is plastic or glass, and it does not by itself specify optical loss. A robust outer covering does not remove the need to respect the minimum bend radius.