Ever looked at the back of a television and wondered what on Earth all those connection ports are for? It can be pretty confusing to navigate each and every port and to know which port does what. So, here are some of the most common television cables out there, their variations, and what they do.

1. HDMI

hdmi different cords
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HDMI is one of the most well-known connection cables across the board and comes in a range of variations. The most common variation, Type-A, is typically used to connect source devices, such as a laptop or gaming console. Video inputs such as DVD or BluRay players can also be connected to your television via an HDMI cord. It's a pretty versatile connection, and most input devices have such a port.

There also comes the Micro HDMI cord. This can be used to connect your television to smaller devices, such as a DSLR camera or tablet. Keep in mind that with HDMI variations, only one end of the cord differs, with the other end being the standard Type-A size (as that suits the majority of devices).

Related: The Best 4K HDMI Cables

Beyond the Mini HDMI, there is an even smaller Micro HDMI cable. You may have seen this before, given how commonly used it is for connecting to phones or wireless speakers for charging.

You can also get a right-angled HDMI cable for easier connection to your television, as well as a gripping cable to avoid unstable connection. There really are HDMI cables out there for each and every purpose.

If you have an older television that doesn't have an HDMI port, it is possible to also use a composite connection for similar purposes. This connection type will be discussed later on here.

2. S-Video

s-video black cord
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As the name suggests, S-Video is a funky-looking cord responsible for transmitting video-only signals into your television. This is done by splitting the video data into a color and brightness signal in order to improve the display quality of less modern televisions. It is also known as a signaling standard for standard definition video.

The most common type of S-Video cable on televisions has four pins. However, there is a secondary type that has seven pins, though this is more commonly seen on PCs. Regardless of the pin quantity, you can still use the standard four-pinned cable, so don't buy yourself an additional seven-pinned cable if you want to hook up your PC.

3. Component

component video cords
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This multicolored set of cables is called a component connection. Each three of the cables are different RCA connectors, and their colors match the ports present at the back of televisions. You have the green Y cable, the blue Pb cable, and the red Pr cable. These are used to connect televisions to DVD players, allowing for higher picture quality via an analog signal.

There are three key kinds of signals that can be transmitted into televisions via a composite connection: scan, chrominance, and luminance. These relate to display brightness, color, and the video frame boundaries.

Keep in mind that you probably won't need to use a component cable if your television has a HDMI port (which, if it's relatively modern, it will). So make sure you know what ports your TV has so that you know which cables are required.

4. Ethernet

ethernet cable picture
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Ethernet cables are hugely important for internet connections. Your Wi-Fi router will have a hardwire Ethernet connection, and your television should have such a port, too. If you want your television to receive a quicker, more stable internet connection, it's definitely worth hooking it up to an Ethernet cable.

Related: How to Set Up Ethernet and Wireless Powerline Adapters

This, however, will depend on the cable ecosystem of your home. You'll need an Ethernet wall outlet near your television to hook up your television to the internet via a hardwire connection. You can, alternatively, feed an Ethernet cable in from another room through your wall, but you'll probably need to call out an engineer to get this done. However, this might drastically improve your television's internet connection, so it's worth considering.

It's also worth noting that if your television is pretty old, it may not have an Ethernet connection, given that such a television may rely on an external antenna to provide channels. In this case, you may have to rely on a wireless connection instead.

5. Composite

composite cords
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Another multicolored, multifaceted cable, which can sometimes be confused with the component connection previously discussed here. A composite connection can be used to transfer a video signal into your television.

This type of connection is typically used for older external devices, such as a Nintendo Wii or VCR player. They do not support HD picture quality, which is the standard for many modern televisions. This connection type is also vulnerable to radio frequency interference, and this can lower the picture quality provided by the cable.

It's probably better to use a composite connection over a component connection (if your TV has composite ports). This is because a composite connection can offer better picture quality, and can support higher resolution televisions. Component connections are essentially the next step up from composite and are far better suited to newer televisions. However, most newer televisions still support composite connections via the single, yellow cable, so that older devices can be connected if desired.

You could also use the previously mentioned S-Video connection as a replacement for composite, given its ability to offer a higher quality transmission signal.

6. USB

white usb cord

The USB connection is truly one of the most common in the world. So many devices have a USB port, including laptops, computers, and televisions. A USB connection can be used to hook up streaming devices, such as a NOWTV or Amazon Fire TV Stick.

USB cables also allow for the connection of external hard drives or flash drives. You could even charge your phone via this connection. A TV antenna can also be supported via a USB connection.

Know Which Ports Do What Before Buying Any Cables

While each and every television connection port has its own function, you probably won't need a cable for every single port. It is, therefore, worth noting what external devices you need to connect in order to determine which cables you do and don't need. Once you've done that, you'll be set to enjoy movies, games, or TV shows to your heart's content.