In general, there are two ways for protecting the l 25 um bare fiber (used in our equipment).
The cable is the most common method for protecting the fibers in our lab.
Currently used buffered fibers are jacked fibers or more common, cables, they have an outside diameterbetween 1.6 and 4 mm. There are a lot of colors the final protection layer on the outside of the cable,the PVC jacket, can have.
Cables with connectors on both sides are usually called patch cords or jumper cables.
Inside equipment, in most cases, the fiber is protected with only the primary and secondary coatingcalled a buffered fiber. In combination with a connector on one side, this is called a pigtail.
This pigtail is connected to an optical component like a laserdiode or a detectordiode.
The connector will be used as interface point for the circuit pack (optical output or optical input port).In most cases this connector is inserted to an on board coupler or adapter.
The outside diameter of the buffered fiber is approximately 0.9 mm.
Be aware of the fact that the name pigtail in a lot of countries may not be used.
In case you are communicating about these types of fibers, call them buffered fibers.
