Editing Electrical connector (section)

==={{Anchor|plug|socket}}Plug and socket connectors===
{{see also|Gender of connectors and fasteners|Pinout}}
Plug and socket connectors are usually made up of a male '''plug''' (typically pin contacts) and a female '''socket''' (typically receptacle contacts). Often, but not always, sockets are permanently fixed to a device as in a chassis connector {{See above}}, and plugs are attached to a cable. 

Plugs generally have one or more pins or prongs that are inserted into openings in the mating socket. The connection between the mating metal parts must be sufficiently tight to make a good electrical connection and complete the circuit. An alternative type of plug and socket connection uses [[#Hyperboloid contacts|hyperboloid contacts]], which makes a more reliable electrical connection. When working with multi-pin connectors, it is helpful to have a [[pinout]] diagram to identify the wire or circuit node connected to each pin.

Some connector styles may combine pin and socket connection types in a single unit, referred to as a [[hermaphroditic connector]].<ref name="taoe">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LAiWPwAACAAJ |title=The Art of Electronics |edition=2nd |last1=Horowitz |first1=Paul |last2=Hill |first2=Winfield |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1989 |isbn=0-521-37095-7}}</ref>{{rp|56}} These connectors includes mating with both male and female aspects, involving complementary paired identical parts each containing both protrusions and indentations. These mating surfaces are mounted into identical fittings that freely mate with any other, without regard for gender (provided that the size and type match).

Sometimes both ends of a cable are terminated with the same gender of connector, as in many [[Ethernet]] patch cables. In other applications the two ends are terminated differently, either with male and female of the same connector (as in an [[extension cord]]), or with incompatible connectors, which is sometimes called an ''[[Adapter (computing)|adapter]] cable''.

Plugs and sockets are widely used in various connector systems including blade connectors, [[breadboard]]s, [[XLR connector]]s, [[Automobile auxiliary power outlet|car power outlets]], [[banana connector]]s, and [[phone connector (audio)|phone connectors]].

===={{Anchor|jack}}Jacks and plugs====
[[File:Jackplug.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.55|Male [[phone connector (audio)|phone plug]]]]
A '''jack''' is a connector that installs on the surface of a bulkhead or enclosure, and mates with its reciprocal, the '''plug'''.<ref name="jack-plug">{{cite web |url=https://www.cosjwt.com/jack-plug-male-female-connectors/ |title=Jack/Plug – Jack, Plug, Male, Female Connectors |website=An Engineer's Review |date=15 July 2009 |access-date=1 July 2019 |last1=Huggins |first1=John S.}}</ref> According to the [[ASME|American Society of Mechanical Engineers]],<ref name="asme-ref">{{cite book | title = Reference Designations for Electrical and Electronics Parts and Equipment: ASME Y14.44-2008 : Section 2.1.5.3 (2) | publisher = ASME, Fairfield, NJ | year = 2008 | url = http://catalog.asme.org/Codes/PrintBook/Y1444_Reference_Designations.cfm | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100313114131/http://catalog.asme.org/Codes/PrintBook/Y1444_Reference_Designations.cfm | archive-date = 2010-03-13 | quote = the stationary (more fixed) connector of a mating pair shall be designated J or X ... The movable (less fixed) connector of a mating pair shall be designated P | access-date = 2012-02-03 }}</ref> the stationary (more fixed) connector of a pair is classified as a ''jack'' (denoted J), usually attached to a piece of equipment as in a chassis-mount or panel-mount connector. The movable (less fixed) connector is classified as a ''plug'' (denoted P),<ref name="asme-ref" /> designed to attach to a wire, cable or removable electrical assembly.<ref name="IEEE and ANSI, New York, NY">{{cite book | title = Graphic Symbols for Electrical and Electronics Diagrams (Including Reference Designation Letters): IEEE-315-1975 (Reaffirmed 1993): Section 22 | publisher = IEEE and ANSI, New York, NY | year = 1993 | url = https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=ieee-315-1975}}</ref> This convention is currently defined in ASME Y14.44-2008, which supersedes [[IEEE 200-1975]], which in turn derives from the long-withdrawn MIL-STD-16 (from the 1950s), highlighting the heritage of this connector naming convention.<ref name="jack-plug" /> IEEE 315-1975 works alongside ASME Y14.44-2008 to define jacks and plugs.

The term ''jack'' occurs in several related terms:
* The '''[[registered jack]]''' or '''[[modular connector|modular jack]]''' in RJ11, RJ45 and other similar connectors used for [[telecommunications]] and [[computer network]]ing
* The '''telephone jack''' of manual [[telephone switchboard]]s, which is the socket fitting the original {{convert|1/4|in|mm|2}} [[telephone plug]]
* The {{convert|1/4|in|mm|2}} '''[[Phone connector (audio)|phone jack]]''' common to many electronic applications in various configurations, sometimes referred to as a ''headphone jack''
* The '''[[RCA connector|RCA jack]]''', also known as a ''phono jack'', common to consumer audiovisual electronics
* The '''[[EIAJ connector|EIAJ jack]]''' for consumer appliances requiring a power supply of less than 18.0&nbsp;volts