A single-mode fiber that has two claddings. Note 1: Each cladding has a refractive index that is lower than that of the core. Of the two claddings, inner and outer, the inner cladding has the lower refractive index. Note 2: A doubly clad fiber has the advantage of very low macrobending losses. It also has two zero-dispersion points, and low dispersion over a much wider wavelength range than a singly clad fiber. Synonyms depressed-cladding fiber, depressed-inner-cladding fiber, W-profile fiber (from the fact that a symmetrical plot of its refractive index profile superficially resembles the letter W. )