Computer Hardware Terms, Glossary and Dictionary

Twisted-pair cable is a type of cable that consists of two independently insulated wires twisted around one another for the purposes of canceling out electromagnetic interference which can cause crosstalk. The number of twists per meter makes up part of the specification for a given type of cable. The greater the number of twists, the more crosstalk is reduced. There are a few variations of the twisted pair cables: Shielded Twisted Pair (STP), Screened Shielded Twisted Pair (S/STP), Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP), Foiled Twisted Pair (FTP), Screened Unshielded Twisted Pair (S/UTP), and Screened Foiled Twisted Pair (S/FTP).

Related Terms

Twisted-pair cable