A _____ is a material that is slid before crimping both ends of a patch cable and acts to reduce strain in the cable.

A _____ is a material that is slid before crimping both ends of a patch cable and acts to reduce strain in the cable.

• A. Boot
• B. Shield
• C. Jacket
• D. Ferrule

Answer: (A)

Strain relief is provided by the boot on a patch cable. The boot is slid onto the cable before the connector ends are crimped, and it cushions and distributes bending forces where the cable jacket meets the connector. This helps prevent stress from concentrating at the termination, reducing the chance of damage to the wires and connector over time. The boot also protects the junction from wear and helps keep the cable organized as it plugs and unplugs. The other parts have different roles: a shield reduces EMI, a jacket is the outer protective layer of the cable, and a ferrule is used in other types of terminations and isn’t the feature that reduces strain in this context.

Strain relief is provided by the boot on a patch cable. The boot is slid onto the cable before the connector ends are crimped, and it cushions and distributes bending forces where the cable jacket meets the connector. This helps prevent stress from concentrating at the termination, reducing the chance of damage to the wires and connector over time. The boot also protects the junction from wear and helps keep the cable organized as it plugs and unplugs. The other parts have different roles: a shield reduces EMI, a jacket is the outer protective layer of the cable, and a ferrule is used in other types of terminations and isn’t the feature that reduces strain in this context.