An Ethernet port is also called a jack or a socket. The purpose of this port of socket is to connect wired network hardware in a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), or wide area network (WAN). A Cat 5 Jack is a port that is compatible with Cat 5 Ethernet cable or wires.
Category 5 cable or Cat 5 is a term that has become synonymous with ethernet. Cat 5 cable consists of four pairs of twisted copper that terminates at one of these ports or sockets. Because they can transfer clear data up to 100 meters, category 5 jacks and components are designed for high-speed computing and are used mainly for data transfer.
Cat 5 jacks are multi-purpose and are used for Ethernet, Internet, phone, modem, and computer networks from speeds of 10 to 100 Mbps. These jacks snap into any housing or wall plates making them easy to use.