What is not a characteristic of the cladding?

The characteristic that is not applicable to the cladding is the stripping process for termination. Cladding is part of the fiber optic structure that surrounds the core and provides several essential functions. It does play a significant role in protecting the core by acting as a barrier and minimizing light loss. The cladding is also designed to trap light within the core through the principle of total internal reflection, which is crucial for the effective transmission of signals.

In contrast, when preparing fiber optics for termination, it is the fiber jacket that is typically stripped away, not the cladding. The jacket is the outer protective layer that must be removed to access the fiber core and cladding for termination purposes. The cladding itself remains intact during this process, making it an integral part of the fiber that should not be stripped.