1、資料的(de)(de)(de)差異：電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)線用于(yu)承載電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)流的(de)(de)(de)導(dao)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)金屬線材。有實心(xin)的(de)(de)(de)﹑絞合(he)的(de)(de)(de)或箔片(pian)織(zhi)造的(de)(de)(de)等各種形(xing)式。按絕緣(yuan)情(qing)況分(fen)為裸電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)線和(he)絕緣(yuan)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)線兩大類。電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)纜由一根(gen)或多根(gen)彼此絕緣(yuan)的(de)(de)(de)導(dao)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)線心(xin)置于(yu)密封護套(tao)中構(gou)成的(de)(de)(de)絕緣(yuan)導(dao)線。其外可加維(wei)護覆(fu)蓋層(ceng)，電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)線與電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)纜的(de)(de)(de)差異在(zai)于(yu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)線的(de)(de)(de)尺度通(tong)常較(jiao)(jiao)小，布局較(jiao)(jiao)為簡略，但有時也將電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)纜歸入廣義的(de)(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)線之列。

2、用(yong)處(chu)(chu)的(de)差異：裸(luo)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)線(xian)(xian)不包任何絕(jue)(jue)緣(yuan)或(huo)維護層的(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)線(xian)(xian)。除作(zuo)為(wei)傳輸(shu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能和信(xin)息(xi)的(de)導線(xian)(xian)外(wai)，還可用(yong)于制作(zuo)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)機﹑電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)器的(de)構件和連接線(xian)(xian)。通常用(yong)銅﹑鋁(lv)﹑銅合(he)(he)金(jin)﹑鋁(lv)合(he)(he)金(jin)。此外(wai)，還有各(ge)種(zhong)(zhong)適(shi)用(yong)于特(te)種(zhong)(zhong)需求的(de)絕(jue)(jue)緣(yuan)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)線(xian)(xian)，如汽車用(yong)低壓電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)線(xian)(xian)﹑汽車用(yong)高壓點前方﹑電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)機電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)器引接線(xian)(xian)﹑航空導線(xian)(xian)﹑抵償導線(xian)(xian)等。 電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)纜(lan)用(yong)于傳輸(shu)﹑分配(pei)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能或(huo)傳送電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)信(xin)號。 電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)纜(lan)按其用(yong)處(chu)(chu)可分為(wei)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)力電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)纜(lan)﹑通訊電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)纜(lan)和操控(kong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)纜(lan)等。

3、布局的(de)(de)(de)差異(yi)：電(dian)(dian)力電(dian)(dian)纜與(yu)通常(chang)電(dian)(dian)線(xian)的(de)(de)(de)不同(tong)主(zhu)要是電(dian)(dian)纜尺度較大，布局較雜亂(luan)。電(dian)(dian)纜主(zhu)要由(you)以下(xia)4部分群組(zu)成。導電(dian)(dian)線(xian)心:用高電(dian)(dian)導率資料制(zhi)成。絕緣層﹕用作電(dian)(dian)纜的(de)(de)(de)絕緣資料應當具有高的(de)(de)(de)絕緣電(dian)(dian)阻，高的(de)(de)(de)擊穿(chuan)電(dian)(dian)場(chang)強度。電(dian)(dian)纜常(chang)以絕緣資料分類(lei)。

除了上面的差異，電纜還具有顯著的優勢。與架空線比較，電纜的長處是線間絕緣間隔小，占地空間小，地下敷設而不占地上以上空間，不受周圍環境污染影響，送電可靠性高，對人身安全和周圍環境攪擾小。因而，電纜多應用于生齒密布和電網稠密區及交通擁堵繁忙處。關于現代化建設有著不行無視的效果。再簡略的說：電力電纜通常指的是室外架空電纜或室外架空裸線電纜，電線電纜通常指的是是橡套電纜或暫時用電的電纜。