Flexible flat cable

However, the term FFC usually refers to the extremely thin flat cable often found in high-density electronic applications like laptops and cell phones.

Sometimes the term FPC (flexible printed circuit) is even—somewhat inaccurately—used for any type of FFC;[citation needed] however, this is more accurately used to describe etched or printed circuits that incorporate components and are built onto a flexible material.

Often, each end of the cable is reinforced with a stiffener to make insertion easier or to provide strain relief.

In addition, because the wires are protected individually and not wrapped many times over by different materials as round cables are, they are lighter in weight and offer greater flexibility.

[1] Now FFC Cables are widely used in printer connections between the head and the motherboard, plotters, scanners, copiers, stereos, LCD appliances, fax machines, DVD players, and signal transmission and plate board connections.