What does a colored stripe on a ribbon cable mean?



Ribbon cables have a colored stripe that runs the length of one side of the cable. What does the colored stripe mean?

A) Different colors are associated with different cable speeds

B) The stripe is pin 1 of the cable

C) The stripe is pin 40 of the cable

D) The color shows the direction that the cable should be installed


The answer: B) The stripe is pin 1 of the cable

Pin 1 is always identified with a colored stripe down the length of the cable. No matter which way you look at the cable, the colored edge will always be pin 1!

Want to know more? Watch “Computer Cable Types.”

There are many different personal computer cable types, conventions, and standardizations. In this video, you’ll learn about the different types of cables, how cable design ensures the correct functionality, and an overview of the most common cable types that a CompTIA A+ certified professional might see every day.