This layer in Optical Fiber cable can be Loose or tight.

This layer in Optical Fiber cable can be Loose or tight.

• A. Jacket
• B. Core
• C. Buffer layer
• D. Coating

Answer: (C)

The layer that can be loose or tight is the buffer layer. This protective layer sits right around the delicate glass core (and its cladding) and shields the fiber from moisture, abrasion, and microbending. In a loose-buffered design, the buffer is applied in a way that there’s some slack or space, often with the fiber housed in a protective tube, which makes handling and splicing easier and can reduce stress on the fiber. In a tight-buffered design, the buffer is bonded directly to the fiber, giving a smaller overall diameter and a shorter bend radius, which is useful for compact indoor cables. The jacket is the outer protective cover, and the core is the light-carrying glass, while coating refers to the polymer layer around the fiber but isn’t the part typically described as being loose or tight.

The layer that can be loose or tight is the buffer layer. This protective layer sits right around the delicate glass core (and its cladding) and shields the fiber from moisture, abrasion, and microbending. In a loose-buffered design, the buffer is applied in a way that there’s some slack or space, often with the fiber housed in a protective tube, which makes handling and splicing easier and can reduce stress on the fiber. In a tight-buffered design, the buffer is bonded directly to the fiber, giving a smaller overall diameter and a shorter bend radius, which is useful for compact indoor cables. The jacket is the outer protective cover, and the core is the light-carrying glass, while coating refers to the polymer layer around the fiber but isn’t the part typically described as being loose or tight.