A CAT5 patch panel or patch bay is a panel, typically rack mounted that houses cable connections. One typically shorter patch cable will plug into the front side, whereas the back holds the connection of a much longer and more permanent cable. The assembly of hardware is arranged so that a number of circuits, usually of the same or similar type, appear on jacks for monitoring, interconnecting, and testing circuits in a convenient, flexible manner.

CAT5 Patch panels offer the convenience of allowing technicians to quickly change the path of select signals, without the expense of dedicated switching equipment.