Why Standards Matter
The TIA/EIA-568-B standard ensures that every Ethernet cable, no matter who built it, connects the same pins on both ends. Without a universal standard, cables built by different technicians wouldn't be interchangeable. The T-568B variant is the most widely used in the United States and is the standard required for most IT certifications.
ReferenceT-568B Pin Assignments
The diagram below shows the correct wire positions from the learner's perspective — with the connector tab facing down and Pin 1 on the left.
T-568B reference: Pin 1 (White-Orange) through Pin 8 (Brown), viewed with the tab facing down.
White-Orange · Orange · White-Green · Blue · White-Blue · Green · White-Brown · Brown
Notice the pattern: the stripe (white) wire always comes first in each pair — except for the Blue pair (Pins 4–5), where solid Blue comes before White-Blue.
Print or screenshot the reference diagram above and keep it visible at your workstation while you work. On the job, technicians use a T-568B reference card as a quick-check tool — compare your wire arrangement against the card before inserting wires into the connector every time.
Audio walkthrough of the color sequence and how to remember it. (0:45)
Arrange the Wires
Drag each wire into the correct pin position. When you're ready, click Check My Work to see how you did.