Optical fiber is a flexible transparent fiber made of glass or plastic that transmits light and is used for fiber-optic communication. It consists of a core that light travels through, surrounded by cladding and a protective buffer coating. Light is reflected down the fiber by the coating and emerges from the other end with little loss. Optical fiber has advantages over copper wire like higher bandwidth, less signal degradation over longer distances, and non-flammability. Common applications include use by cable companies, utilities, LANs, and broadcasting.