what is guided media

Guided media is a wired transmission medium that carries data through a physical path such as cables, rather than through open air. In computer networks, common examples are twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable, and fiber- optic cable.

What it means

• The signal travels along a fixed, physical route.
• It is often used for direct, point-to-point connections.
• Because the path is controlled, it usually offers better stability and less interference than wireless transmission.

Common types

• Twisted-pair cable.
• Coaxial cable.
• Fiber-optic cable.

Guided vs. unguided

Feature| Guided media| Unguided media
---|---|---
Transmission path| Physical cables| Air or free space
Other name| Wired or bounded media| Wireless or unbounded media
Typical use| Device-to-device networking| Radio, mobile, and Wi‑Fi-style communication

Simple example

If a computer is connected to a switch using an Ethernet cable, that connection uses guided media.

TL;DR: Guided media means data moves through a physical cable, not wirelessly, and it is a core part of wired networking.