Fiber optics work by transmitting light through thin glass cores surrounded by cladding that reflects light down the core. Light travels through the core via total internal reflection off the cladding. Fiber optic systems include transmitters that encode light signals, optical fibers that carry the signals long distances, and receivers that decode the signals. Key advantages of fiber optics are lower costs, higher data capacity, non-flammability, smaller size, less signal degradation, and ability to carry digital and light signals with low power needs.