The main point of any kind of ribbon cable is to enable mass termination, specifically for IDC connectors. These rows of sharp contacts are used at both ends of the cable, although on special occasions, one end may be crimped or have a solder-bucket connection.
Most popular types of connectors that are available for ribbon cables:
BT224
D-Subminiature
Micro ribbon
DIN 41612
PCB transition header
DIL headers
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| BT224 | D-Sub | Micro ribbon | DIN 41612 | PCB transition header | DIL headers |