Shielded Cable

A shielded cable is an electrical cable of one or more insulated conductors enclosed by a
common conductive layer. The shield may be composed of braided strands of copper or aluminum mylar
tape, or a layer of conducting polymer. Usually, this shield is covered with a jacket.
The shield acts as a faraday cage to reduce electrical noise from affecting the signals, and to reduce
electromagnetic radiation that may interfere with other devices (see electromagnetic interference).
The shield minimizes capacitive coupled noise from other electrical sources. The shield must be applied
across cable splices. In shielded signal cables the shield may act as the return path for the signal, or may
act as screening only.