Fiber optics work by guiding light down thin glass or plastic strands using internal reflection. Light entering one end of the fiber bounces off the inner walls and emerges from the other end. Historically, naval ships communicated using signal lights and Morse code. Optical fibers are made of extremely pure glass with few impurities to allow light to pass through. Fiber optics have advantages over copper wires including lower cost, higher data capacity, less signal interference between fibers, lower power needs, and suitability for digital networks.