| Signaling | The method of representing the bits in electrical, optical, or wireless signals. |
| Encoding | Converting a stream of bits into pre-defined codes. |
| Bandwidth | The capacity of the medium to carry data and it is measured in bit per second. |
| Throughput | The measure of the transfer of bits across the media over a given period of time. |
| Goodput | The measure of usable data transferred over a given period of time. |
| Return to Zero | An encoding method where the 0 is represented by a negative voltage level while |
| (RZ) Encoding | the 1 is represented by a positive voltage level. For both the 0 and 1 the signal |
| must return to zero voltage at the middle of the bit duration. | |
| Non-Return to Zero (NRZ) Encoding | An encoding method where the 0 is represented by a negative voltage level while the 1 is represented by a positive voltage level. |
| Manchester | A kind of encoding where the 0 is represented by a high to low voltage transition in |
| Encoding | the middle of the bit time. While, the 1 is represented by a low to high voltage |
| transition in the middle of the bit time. | |
| Code Group | A consecutive sequence of code bits that are interpreted and mapped as a data bit pattern. |
| 4B/5B Encoding | It is an encoding method that represents each group of 4 bits of data into 5 bits. |
| Unshielded | A kind of cables consists of 4 twisted pairs of color-coded copper wires enclosed |
| Twisted Pair(UTP) | in a plastic sheath. |
| Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) | A kind of cables consists of two pairs of wires that are wrapped in an overall metallic braid or foil. |
| Coaxial cable | A kind of cables consists of a copper conductor surrounded by a layer of |
| flexible insulation. | |
| RJ-45 | Registered Jack, a type of connector commonly used for Ethernet networking. |
| Single-Mode | An optical fiber that is designed for the transmission of a single ray or mode of light |
| Fiber | as a carrier and is used for long-distance signal transmission. |
| Multi-Mode | An optical fiber that is able to carry multiple light rays or modes concurrently, each |
| Fiber | at a slightly different reflection angle within the optical fiber core. |
| IEEE 802.11 | Commonly referred to as Wi-Fi, is a Wireless LAN (WLAN) technology that uses a |
| contention or non-deterministic system with a Carrier Sense Multiple | |
| Access/Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) media access process. | |
| IEEE 802.15 | A standard, commonly known as "Bluetooth", uses a device pairing process to |
| communicate over distances up to 15 meters. | |
| IEEE 802.16 | A Standard commonly known as WiMAX uses a point-to-multipoint topology to |
| provide wireless broadband access. | |
| Strait Tip (ST) | A connector widely used with multimode fiber cables. |
| Connector |
| Subscriber Channel (SC) | A connector that uses a push-pull mechanism to ensure positive insertion. This connector type is widely used with single-mode fiber cables. |
| Connector | |
| Lucent Connector (LC) | A small connector used with single-mode fiber cables and also supports multi-mode fiber cables. |