The Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (QSFP) is a compact, hot-pluggable transceiver used for data communications applications. It is used to connect switches, network, computers and servers distances of 10km. QSFP transceivers are designed to support Serial and supported by many network component vendors, allowing other communications standards.

The form factor and electrical interface are specified by a multi-source agreement (MSA) under the auspices of the SFF Committee. It interfaces networking hardware to a fiber optic cable or active or passive electrical copper connection. It is an industry format jointly developed and supported by many network component vendors, allowing data rates from 4x10 Gbit/s. The format specification is evolving to enable higher data rates; as of May 2013, highest possible rate is 4x28 Gbit/s (also known as QSFP28). QSFP transceiver has 38 pins with 4 high-speed TX pairs (CML-I) and 4 high-speed RX pairs (CML-O).and supported for each link to provide the required optical reach over many network component vendors.

QSFP transceivers are available with a variety of transmitter and receiver types, allowing users to select the appropriate transceiver for each link to provide the required optical reach over the available optical fiber type (e.g. multi-mode fiber or single-mode fiber). QSFP modules are commonly available in sev for each link to provide the required optical reach over of its small size it provides increased port densityeral different categories:

The original QSFP document specified four channels carrying Gigabit_Ethernet, 4GFC (FiberChannel), or DDR InfiniBand.

QSFP+ is an evolution of QSFP to support four 10 Gbit/sec or a single 40 Gbit/sec link carrying 40 Gigabit Ethernet, 10GFC FiberChannel, or QDR InfiniBand.

The QSFP14 standard is designed to carry FDR InfiniBand and SAS-3.

The QSFP28 standard is designed to carry 100 Gigabit Ethernet or EDR InfiniBand.

The QSFP transceiver is used for Ethernet, Fibre Channnel and Infiniband standards. It's a hot-pluggable transceiver which has the same dimensions as an XFP. Because of its small size it provides increased port density and therefore system cost savings.The QSFP transceiver comes as an SR for short distance multi-mode up to 300 meters and LR for ten kilometers single mode. The SR version has an MPO connector which uses 4 four lanes for data traffic. The operating wavelength is around 850nm. The LR version uses standard LC connectors and operates around 1310nm. (1270-1330).

The Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (QSFP) is a compact, hot-pluggable transceiver used for data communications applications and it have a qsfp port which used in qsfp switches.