There are two common types of Ethernet interfaces in physical form: RJ-45 interfaces and fiber optic interfaces (although fiber optic interfaces do not directly use Ethernet cables, they are another common network connection method, so they are mentioned here for completeness).
1 RJ-45 interface: - Appearance: RJ-45 interface is a standardized plug and socket (or port) commonly used to connect network devices (such as computers, routers, switches, etc.) with Ethernet cables (i.e. Ethernet cables). It looks like a slightly larger telephone line interface, but with a slightly different shape, with eight metal contacts (called "pins") arranged in two rows of four each- Color: The interface is usually made of plastic material, and the color may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but is usually off white, gray, or black- Application: Widely used in local area network (LAN) connections, supporting different Ethernet standards such as 10Base-T, 100Base TX, 1000Base-T (Gigabit Ethernet), etc.
2. Fiber optic interface (not a direct Ethernet interface, but used for network connection): - Type: There are multiple types of fiber optic interfaces, such as SC, ST, FC, LC, etc. Each type has a slightly different physical form, but they all use fiber optic as the transmission medium- Appearance: Fiber optic interfaces are typically small metal or plastic boxes that contain precision mechanical structures and optical interfaces for securing optical fibers. Fiber optic cables are connected to devices at the other end through interface faces to achieve the transmission of optical signals- Application: Mainly used in network environments that require high-speed and long-distance transmission, such as data centers, metropolitan area networks, etc.
When we mention "Ethernet interface", the most common is the RJ-45 interface, which has a standard eight pin plug and socket for connecting Ethernet cables to network devices. Although fiber optic interfaces do not directly use Ethernet cables, they are still an indispensable part of network connections.