The core number is the number of conductors that are used in cable. Depending on a particular application, cables can either be single-core or multiple. In this regards different types of cables are:
- Single core cable: Generally used for electrical applications involving single phase
- 2 Core cables: Generally used for electrical applications involving single phase
- 3 Core cables: Mostly used for three-phase electrical applications
- 4 Core cables: Mostly used for three-phase electrical applications
- 5 Core Cables: Generally used for signaling, communication, and sometimes power applications
- 6 Core cables: Generally found in communication applications
- 8 Core cables: Generally found in communication applications
- 12 Core Cables: Generally found in communication applications, fire alarm, and submarine applications
- 16 Core Cables: Generally found in communication applications
- 24 Core Cables: Generally found in communication applications
- 26 Core Cables: Generally used for communication purposes
- 30 Core Cables: Generally used for communication purposes
The figure below illustrates some types of cables based on core number: