Jack (connector)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In electronics, a jack is generally a socket (female) connector, but in some cases the term is arbitrarily applied to the plug (see plug) or socket of a pair of mating connectors. To avoid confusion, the specific terms 'plug' or 'socket' are sometimes used. The term jack occurs in several related terms:
- The telephone jack of old-style manual telephone exchanges, which is the socket fitting the original 1/4" jack plug. Also known as a phone jack.
- The RJ in RJ11, RJ45 and similar, which stands for registered jack.
- The RCA jack, also known as a phono jack.
- The EIAJ Plug (or formally EIAJ RC-5320A) with a yellow tip for consumer appliances requiring less than an 18.0 volt power supply.
When used with a size, the term jack refers to the socket that matches the corresponding size of jack plug. For example:
- 6.35mm or 1/4" TRS connector jack
- 3.5mm miniature jack
- 2.5mm subminiature jack
A headphone jack or earphone jack is normally one of the three standard sizes of jack, but the term could refer to any socket used for this purpose.
Jack plugs are used for microphones.
