What is the purpose of a fiber optic splice?

A fiber optic splice serves the important function of joining two fiber optic cables together, ensuring that light can continue to transmit seamlessly from one cable to another. This process is crucial in fiber optic networks, as maintaining the integrity of the light signal is essential for effective communication.

When two fiber optic cables are spliced, the goal is to align their cores precisely to minimize signal loss and maintain optimal performance. This is typically achieved through fusion splicing, where the ends of the fibers are melted together, or mechanical splicing, which aligns the fibers using a fixture and a matching gel.

The other options do not accurately describe the primary function of a fiber optic splice. Cutting cables shorter does not achieve the purpose of light transmission continuity. Terminating cables involves attaching connectors, which is separate from the splicing process. Lastly, converting electrical signals to optical signals is a function of transceivers and not related to the splicing of fibers.