A modern patch panel works a little like a network switch, but instead of being a stand-alone device with internal networking hardware, they are merely a conduit for the cables to connect to other connections and other networks. They come in a range of sizes, and are typically mountable, whether that's on a wall, or on a rack to make for easier. A patch panel is one of those components that is easy to overlook when planning a network — it does not switch, route, or process data, and to the uninitiated it can look like an expensive way to add an extra set of connectors between the cable and the switch. It serves as the central termination point where permanent cabling connects to active network equipment through short patch cables.