1、資(zi)料(liao)的(de)差(cha)異：電(dian)線(xian)(xian)用于承載電(dian)流的(de)導電(dian)金屬線(xian)(xian)材。有實心的(de)﹑絞合的(de)或箔片織造(zao)的(de)等(deng)各種形式。按絕(jue)(jue)緣(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)情況(kuang)分為(wei)裸電(dian)線(xian)(xian)和絕(jue)(jue)緣(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)電(dian)線(xian)(xian)兩大類(lei)。電(dian)纜由一根或多根彼此絕(jue)(jue)緣(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的(de)導電(dian)線(xian)(xian)心置(zhi)于密封護(hu)套(tao)中構(gou)成的(de)絕(jue)(jue)緣(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)導線(xian)(xian)。其外可(ke)加維護(hu)覆蓋層，電(dian)線(xian)(xian)與電(dian)纜的(de)差(cha)異在于電(dian)線(xian)(xian)的(de)尺度通常(chang)較小，布局較為(wei)簡略，但(dan)有時(shi)也(ye)將電(dian)纜歸(gui)入廣義(yi)的(de)電(dian)線(xian)(xian)之列。

2、用處的(de)差異：裸(luo)電(dian)(dian)線(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)不包任何絕緣或維(wei)護層的(de)電(dian)(dian)線(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)。除作為傳輸電(dian)(dian)能(neng)和(he)信(xin)息的(de)導(dao)(dao)線(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)外(wai)，還可(ke)用于(yu)制作電(dian)(dian)機﹑電(dian)(dian)器的(de)構件(jian)和(he)連接(jie)線(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)。通常用銅﹑鋁﹑銅合金(jin)﹑鋁合金(jin)。此外(wai)，還有各種適用于(yu)特種需求的(de)絕緣電(dian)(dian)線(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)，如汽車(che)用低壓(ya)電(dian)(dian)線(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)﹑汽車(che)用高壓(ya)點(dian)前方﹑電(dian)(dian)機電(dian)(dian)器引接(jie)線(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)﹑航(hang)空導(dao)(dao)線(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)﹑抵償導(dao)(dao)線(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)等(deng)。 電(dian)(dian)纜(lan)(lan)用于(yu)傳輸﹑分(fen)配電(dian)(dian)能(neng)或傳送電(dian)(dian)信(xin)號。 電(dian)(dian)纜(lan)(lan)按其用處可(ke)分(fen)為電(dian)(dian)力電(dian)(dian)纜(lan)(lan)﹑通訊電(dian)(dian)纜(lan)(lan)和(he)操控(kong)電(dian)(dian)纜(lan)(lan)等(deng)。

3、布局的差異：電(dian)(dian)力(li)電(dian)(dian)纜與(yu)通常電(dian)(dian)線的不同主要是電(dian)(dian)纜尺(chi)度較大，布局較雜亂。電(dian)(dian)纜主要由以下4部(bu)分群組成。導電(dian)(dian)線心:用高(gao)電(dian)(dian)導率資料制成。絕(jue)(jue)緣層﹕用作電(dian)(dian)纜的絕(jue)(jue)緣資料應當具有(you)高(gao)的絕(jue)(jue)緣電(dian)(dian)阻，高(gao)的擊穿電(dian)(dian)場強(qiang)度。電(dian)(dian)纜常以絕(jue)(jue)緣資料分類。

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。