A phone connector is a family of cylindrically-shaped electrical connectors primarily for analog audio signals. Invented in the late 19th century for telephone switchboards, the phone connector remains in use for interfacing wired audio equipment, such as headphones, speakers, microphones, mixing consoles, and electronic musical instruments. A male connector, is mated into a female connector, though other terminology is used.
Phone plug mated in a phone socket. The plug's grooved tip is held firmly by the socket's spring tip contact. When not mated, this spring instead connects to the flat switch contact for detecting a plug.
TS and TRS plugs of different sizes
Old connectors. On the top is a TRS socket. Plugs are below. The leftmost is a TRS plug; the rest are TS plugs.
Modern profile 1⁄4 in TS plugs
Components of an electrical circuit are electrically connected if an electric current can run between them through an electrical conductor. An electrical connector is an electromechanical device used to create an electrical connection between parts of an electrical circuit, or between different electrical circuits, thereby joining them into a larger circuit.
This rear panel of an integrated amplifier features a variety of electrical connectors
Connectors on the back of a 2018 computer
NMEA 2000 cabling using M12 connectors
A 4-pin Mini-DIN S-Video cable, with notches and a rectangular alignment pin