What is an enclosed or semi-enclosed channel that protects, routes, and hides cables and wires?

The correct answer is raceway. A raceway is specifically designed as an enclosed or semi-enclosed channel that serves to protect, route, and hide electrical cables and wires. It is typically used in electrical installations to provide a clean and organized way to manage cables, ensuring they are protected from physical damage and environmental factors.

Raceways can come in various materials like metal or plastic and are ideal for both indoor and outdoor installations. By using raceways, electricians can create a neater appearance, make maintenance easier, and enhance safety by reducing the likelihood of cable-related hazards.

While the other options—conduit, trunking, and cable tray—also serve to manage wires and cables, they do so in different contexts or configurations. Conduits, for instance, are primarily rigid or flexible tubes that protect wires, but they may not always be considered semi-enclosed. Trunking tends to be used for larger cable systems, providing a different structural approach. A cable tray is more suited for supporting cables laid across it rather than providing a fully enclosed channel. Each of these systems plays a role in cable management, but raceway specifically emphasizes the aspect of being both protective and visually concealing for the cabling involved.