廣義的(de)電(dian)(dian)線(xian)電(dian)(dian)纜(lan)(lan)亦簡稱為(wei)電(dian)(dian)纜(lan)(lan)，狹義的(de)電(dian)(dian)纜(lan)(lan)是(shi)指絕緣(yuan)(yuan)電(dian)(dian)纜(lan)(lan)，它(ta)可(ke)定義為(wei)：由(you)下(xia)列部(bu)分組(zu)成的(de)集合體；一(yi)根(gen)或多(duo)根(gen)絕緣(yuan)(yuan)線(xian)芯(xin)，以(yi)及(ji)它(ta)們各自可(ke)能具有(you)(you)的(de)包(bao)覆層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)，總(zong)保護(hu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)及(ji)外(wai)護(hu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)，電(dian)(dian)纜(lan)(lan)亦可(ke)有(you)(you)附加的(de)沒有(you)(you)絕緣(yuan)(yuan)的(de)導(dao)體。用以(yi)傳輸電(dian)(dian)（磁(ci)）能，信息(xi)和實現電(dian)(dian)磁(ci)能轉換的(de)線(xian)材(cai)產品。簡單(dan)的(de)說電(dian)(dian)線(xian)是(shi)由(you)一(yi)根(gen)或幾根(gen)柔軟的(de)導(dao)線(xian)組(zu)成，外(wai)面包(bao)以(yi)輕(qing)軟的(de)護(hu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)；電(dian)(dian)纜(lan)(lan)是(shi)由(you)一(yi)根(gen)或幾根(gen)絕緣(yuan)(yuan)包(bao)導(dao)線(xian)組(zu)成，外(wai)面再包(bao)以(yi)金屬或橡皮(pi)制的(de)堅韌外(wai)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)。電(dian)(dian)纜(lan)(lan)與電(dian)(dian)線(xian)一(yi)般都(dou)由(you)芯(xin)線(xian)、絕緣(yuan)(yuan)包(bao)皮(pi)和保護(hu)外(wai)皮(pi)三(san)個組(zu)成部(bu)分組(zu)成。電(dian)(dian)纜(lan)(lan)的(de)每(mei)一(yi)根(gen)導(dao)體都(dou)可(ke)以(yi)算作一(yi)股電(dian)(dian)線(xian)。這是(shi)電(dian)(dian)線(xian)和電(dian)(dian)纜(lan)(lan)直接(jie)了當(dang)的(de)區別。

1、材料的區別

     電(dian)(dian)線(xian)(xian)用于(yu)承載(zai)電(dian)(dian)流的(de)(de)導電(dian)(dian)金屬線(xian)(xian)材(cai)。有(you)實(shi)心的(de)(de)﹑絞(jiao)合(he)的(de)(de)或箔(bo)片(pian)編織的(de)(de)等各種(zhong)形式(shi)。按絕緣(yuan)狀況分為裸電(dian)(dian)線(xian)(xian)和絕緣(yuan)電(dian)(dian)線(xian)(xian)兩大類。電(dian)(dian)纜由一根或多根相互絕緣(yuan)的(de)(de)導電(dian)(dian)線(xian)(xian)心置于(yu)密(mi)封護套中(zhong)構成的(de)(de)絕緣(yuan)導線(xian)(xian)。其外可加保護覆(fu)蓋層，電(dian)(dian)線(xian)(xian)與(yu)電(dian)(dian)纜的(de)(de)區(qu)別在于(yu)電(dian)(dian)線(xian)(xian)的(de)(de)尺(chi)寸一般較小、結(jie)構較為簡單﹐但有(you)時也(ye)將電(dian)(dian)纜歸入廣(guang)義的(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)線(xian)(xian)之列。

2、結構的區別

      電力電纜(lan)(lan)與普通電線的差別主要是電纜(lan)(lan)尺寸較(jiao)大(da)﹐結構較(jiao)復雜。電纜(lan)(lan)主要由以(yi)下4部分(fen)群組成。導電線心:用高(gao)電導率材料制(zhi)成。絕緣(yuan)(yuan)層﹕用作電纜(lan)(lan)的絕緣(yuan)(yuan)材料應當(dang)具有高(gao)的絕緣(yuan)(yuan)電阻﹐高(gao)的擊(ji)穿電場(chang)強度。電纜(lan)(lan)常(chang)以(yi)絕緣(yuan)(yuan)材料分(fen)類。

3、用途的區別

     裸電(dian)(dian)(dian)線不包任(ren)何絕緣(yuan)(yuan)或(huo)(huo)保護(hu)層(ceng)的電(dian)(dian)(dian)線。除(chu)作(zuo)為(wei)傳(chuan)輸(shu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)能和信息(xi)的導(dao)(dao)線外﹐還(huan)可用(yong)(yong)于(yu)制(zhi)造電(dian)(dian)(dian)機(ji)﹑電(dian)(dian)(dian)器(qi)的構件和連接線。一般用(yong)(yong)銅﹑鋁﹑銅合(he)金(jin)﹑鋁合(he)金(jin)。此外﹐還(huan)有各(ge)種(zhong)(zhong)適用(yong)(yong)于(yu)特(te)種(zhong)(zhong)要(yao)求的絕緣(yuan)(yuan)電(dian)(dian)(dian)線﹐如汽(qi)車(che)用(yong)(yong)低壓電(dian)(dian)(dian)線﹑汽(qi)車(che)用(yong)(yong)高壓點火線﹑電(dian)(dian)(dian)機(ji)電(dian)(dian)(dian)器(qi)引接線﹑航空導(dao)(dao)線﹑補償導(dao)(dao)線等(deng)。電(dian)(dian)(dian)纜用(yong)(yong)于(yu)傳(chuan)輸(shu)﹑分(fen)配電(dian)(dian)(dian)能或(huo)(huo)傳(chuan)送(song)電(dian)(dian)(dian)信號(hao)。電(dian)(dian)(dian)纜按(an)其用(yong)(yong)途(tu)可分(fen)為(wei)電(dian)(dian)(dian)力(li)電(dian)(dian)(dian)纜﹑通信電(dian)(dian)(dian)纜和控制(zhi)電(dian)(dian)(dian)纜等(deng)。

     除了(le)上面的區別,電纜還具有明顯的優勢。與(yu)架空線(xian)相比﹐電纜的優點是線(xian)間絕(jue)緣距(ju)離 小﹐占地空間小﹐地下(xia)敷設(she)而不占地面以(yi)上空間﹐不受(shou)周圍環境污染影響(xiang)﹐送電可靠(kao)性(xing)高﹐對(dui)人身安全和周圍環境干擾小。因此﹐電纜多應用于(yu)人口密集和電網稠密區及交通擁擠繁(fan)忙處。對(dui)于(yu)現代化建設(she)有著不可忽視的作用。