Yes, fiber optic is a cable, but it’s very different from a regular electrical cable. Instead of carrying electrical signals, a fiber optic cable carries data in the form of light. It uses thin strands of glass or plastic fibers to transmit information over long distances with high speed and minimal signal loss.
Each fiber inside the cable acts like a tiny light path that carries signals as pulses of light. The core, which is the innermost part of the fiber, is where the light travels. Around the core is a layer called the cladding, which keeps the light trapped inside by reflecting it back. This design allows fiber optic cables to send data much faster than copper cables and with almost no interference from electrical noise.
In industrial automation and communication systems, fiber optic cables are used to connect sensors, controllers, and network devices where high-speed and noise-free data transfer is required. For example, in Omron fiber optic sensors, the fiber cable carries light between the sensing head and the amplifier. The amplifier sends a light beam through the fiber, and when the light is reflected or interrupted by a target object, it detects the change and converts it into an electrical signal. Because the fiber itself is flexible, compact, and immune to electromagnetic interference, it is ideal for tight spaces, high-temperature areas, or environments with strong electrical noise.
Fiber optic cables are commonly used in telecommunications, internet networks, medical equipment, and industrial automation. They can transmit large amounts of data over long distances with very high accuracy and low energy loss.
So yes, fiber optic is a type of cable, but instead of carrying electricity like traditional wires, it transmits information using light — making it faster, more efficient, and more reliable for both communication and sensing applications.