Transmission lines connect generators to loads and include parallel wires, coaxial cable, and optical fiber. They can experience effects like delay, dispersion, and attenuation. Different transmission modes include TEM where electric and magnetic fields are orthogonal to the direction of propagation. The transmission line is modeled as a distributed circuit with inductance and capacitance. This leads to transmission line equations that can be solved as wave equations. The characteristic impedance of the line determines how waves propagate on the line, with standing wave patterns forming for mismatched loads. The input impedance of the line depends on the load impedance and distance along the line.