A Fiber optic patch Cable is a cable with connectors at both ends used to connect a piece of Hardware to a patch panel, two pieces of hardware, Patch Panel to patch panel, or other combinations requiring an optical connection from point to point.

A patch panel is a panel that houses cable connections. The connectors on the panel have to match terminations from the wall and the terminators on the patch cables. The patch cable then connects to a piece of networking equipment.