| CSF | Conventional single-mode fiber |
| DSF | Dispersion-shifted fiber |
| FOG | Fiber optic gyroscope |
| LD | Laser diode |
| LED | Light-emitting diode |
| MMF | Multimode fiber |
| NA | Numerical aperture |
| nm | Nanometer |
| Pa | Pascal |
| PIF | Parabolic-index fiber |
| POF | Plastic optical fiber |
| ps | Picosecond |
| SIF | Step-index fiber |
| TIR | Total internal reflection |
| WDM | Wavelength-division multiplexing |