Cat 5 Patch Panels

I am looking into the Cat 5 patch panels recently. I am not sure what is the actually usage of this patch panels, but my husband’s friend seems like very interested on this item. He even ordered the Cat 5 patch panels online. I am curious what this thing is when he told me he already ordered a cat 5 patch panel that cost him few hundred. Well, maybe I should study more about Cat 5, if not I do not think I will understand why he bought the patch panel.