What's the Difference between Patch Ethernet Cables and Crossover Ethernet Cables?

 

Patch Cables: 

Refers to electrical and optical cables like Cat5 cables and Optical cables.  However, patch cables/cords can be:
  1. single-conductor wires that use banana connectors
  2. coaxial cables using BNC connectors
  3. Ethernet Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a
  4. Optical fiber cables. 
  5. What makes a patch cable is its length.  Due to its primary use of connecting patch panels, the cables need to be short.
Crossover Cables: Used when connecting two devices of the same kind to transfer data. Example, if you have a broken computer at home, you can extract the information out with a different computer using a crossover cable to connect the other device without the use of hubs or routers.