What are the five components of a fiber-optic cable from outside to inside?

Question

Accepted Answer

From outside in: jacket, strengthening material, buffer, cladding, and core. The core carries the light and the cladding reflects stray light back into it.

* From outside in: jacket → strengthening material → buffer → cladding → core, where the cladding reflects stray light back into the light-carrying core. *

Component
Function

Jacket
Protects against abrasion, moisture, and contaminants

Strengthening Material
Surrounds buffer, prevents fiber from being stretched (often same material as bulletproof vests)

Buffer
Shields core and cladding from damage

Cladding
Reflects light back into the core (keeps light traveling down the fiber)

Core
Light transmission element; typically silica or glass; light pulses travel through here

Go deeper:

Optical fiber — Wikipedia — the core/cladding structure and total internal reflection that keeps light trapped in the core.

Optical fiber connector — Wikipedia — how these strands are terminated once you reach the ends.

Component	Function
Jacket	Protects against abrasion, moisture, and contaminants
Strengthening Material	Surrounds buffer, prevents fiber from being stretched (often same material as bulletproof vests)
Buffer	Shields core and cladding from damage
Cladding	Reflects light back into the core (keeps light traveling down the fiber)
Core	Light transmission element; typically silica or glass; light pulses travel through here