Data terminal equipment

It is also called data processing terminal equipment[1] or tail circuit.

[citation needed] A DTE device communicates with the data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE), such as a modem.

Two different types of devices are assumed on each end of the interconnecting cable for a case of simply adding DTE to the topology (e.g. to a hub, DCE), which also brings a less trivial case of interconnection of devices of the same type: DTE-DTE or DCE-DCE.

Such cases need crossover cables, such as for the Ethernet or null modem for RS-232.

This term is also generally used in the Telco and Cisco equipment context to designate a network device, such as terminals, personal computers but also routers and bridges, that's unable or configured not to generate clock signals.