The professional audio community's demand for a durable and reliable connector, ultimately lead to the creation of the XLR connector. A male XRL connector has one to three pins and a female XRL connector has one to three holes. The 'L' in XLR represents the latch which helps maintain the connection between the male and female ends.
The nature of their construction makes XLR connectors ideal in live audio applications, for XLR connectors are used in everything from garage bands to arena stages. If a public address system is nearby, XLR connectors and cabling are not far behind.
The XLR connector is most commonly found in microphone cables. Another popular use is in sound recording and production, for XLR connections allow use of long cables, while at the same time reducing stray noise.
Another common 'plug-in' for XLR connectors is into an on-stage audio snake. The snake's 'box' houses a panel for XLR connections, as well as ¼-inch inputs and other audio plugs. From there, the snake runs to a soundboard.
In choosing XLR connectors, know their primary function is carrying a balanced audio signal. They prevent noise and carry a signal over a greater length than an unbalanced connector, typical in consumer electronics connections.