What is the name of the physical connection that allows devices to connect to a network?

The term that identifies the physical connection enabling devices to connect to a network is commonly referred to as a network cable. Network cables are the medium through which data is transmitted between devices, establishing a physical link. They come in various types, including twisted pair cables (such as Cat5e, Cat6), coaxial cables, and fiber optic cables, each serving different purposes and environments in networking.

Network adapters, while essential for devices to connect to a network, act as the interface between the device and the network cable rather than being the physical connection itself. Routers play a crucial role in directing network traffic and connecting different networks, but they are more of a logical device within the networking architecture rather than a direct physical connector. Switches operate to connect multiple devices within the same network segment, facilitating communication among them, but they also do not independently provide network connectivity; instead, they work in conjunction with network cables.

For this reason, the selection of network cable accurately represents the physical medium used for device connections within a networking environment.