What is a Connector?
Connectors (plugs/sockets) provide electrical contact so that devices or parts of devices can be connected to one another. Depending on the type of signals that need to be transmitted, the electrical connections must meet very specific requirements. This also includes the reverse polarity protected connection or the mechanical protection of the contacts.
A connector consists of two parts – the male (pin) and the female part (sleeve/cup). Depending on the design, the male or female part is permanently installed at the end of a line. If the male connector is permanently installed, it is referred to as a built-in connector. A male component at the end of the cable is simply called a plug. A permanently installed female part of the connector is referred to as a socket. If the contact is at the end of a line, this is called a coupling.
It is important that the gender of a connecting part is always defined based on its inner conductor. Whether the connector is permanently installed or not, it does not matter for the gender. There are also hermaphroditic connectors where both the plug and the contact have female and male elements, for example, reverse plug connections.