Which type of cable traditionally connected dumb terminals to mainframe computers?

The type of cable that traditionally connected dumb terminals to mainframe computers is a serial cable. This connection was essential for enabling data communication between the terminals and the mainframe systems.

Dumb terminals, which lacked their own processing power, relied on a mainframe for processing data and applications. Serial cables transmit data sequentially, sending one bit at a time over a single channel, which was suitable for the low-speed data transfer requirements of these terminals.

In the context of mainframe computers, serial communication was commonly used because it was simple, reliable, and cost-effective. It allowed for long-distance connections compared to other cable types. The use of serial cables facilitated the necessary communication protocols required for terminal input and output, making them the standard choice for this application in computing history.

Other types of cables mentioned, such as coaxial, fiber optic, and Ethernet, cater to different networking needs. Coaxial cables were generally used for television signals and early computer networks, fiber optic cables are used for high-speed data transmission, and Ethernet cables are primarily associated with local area networks. However, none of these were traditionally the primary choice for connecting dumb terminals to mainframe computers.