Fiber optic cleaning and splicing tools are used to connect fiber optic cables in a variety of configurations. They include fiber optic adapters, connectors, and attenuators; fiber optic couplers or splitters; cable assemblies and patch cords; and fiber optic multiplexers. All of these fiber optic cleaning and splicing tools are designed to preserve the quality of the signal. To ensure quality connections between cables and devices, accessories are often matched by grade. For example, a fiber optic cleaning and splicing tool, such as a connector, may be categorized as premium-grade, process-grade, or laboratory-grade. Laboratory-grade fiber optic cleaning and splicing tools often include precision sensors and probes. Fiber optic cleaning and splicing tools also includes specialized precision fiber optic cleaners, cleaning chemicals or solvents and cleaner dispensers for preparation of the cut and polished joint or splice.

Fiber optic cleaning and splicing tools such as fiber optic patch cords or fiber optic cable assemblies connect different fiber optic components together without signal variance or degradation. A fiber optic patch cord is used to connect devices such as light sources to sensors, attenuators, or filters. In precise laboratory applications, it is important to have a quality, stable signal. A high-quality fiber optic patch cord is usually terminated with a stainless steel ferrule or bushing to provide secure connections. Fiber optic patch cords come in a variety of diameters and also come in bifurcated assemblies, which are terminated by two fibers of the same diameter.

A fiber optic multiplexer can accommodate various system configurations and uses one or more fiber optic cables to manage the processing of analog and digital signals. Fiber optic multiplexers come in single mode and multi-mode versions, and can accommodate synchronous and asynchronous data traffic. Fiber optic multiplexers are important fiber optic wiring accessories, since they can function as nodes in a network, extending the distances between devices without loss of signal. Many fiber optic multiplexers are made of input/output modules, which enable a system administrator to expand the network as necessary. A fiber optic multiplexer varies by the number of ports or channels available and the rate at which it processes incoming data.