Our Professional Answer: A fish tape is a rigid, flattened strip of steel or fiberglass used to guide a pull line or a small number of wires through a conduit or wall. Its stiffness allows it to be pushed around bends and obstacles. It's typically used for shorter runs and smaller, lighter cables, such as those for residential or commercial data networks.

A pulling rope, in contrast, is a high-strength synthetic rope made from materials like double-braided polyester. It is used in conjunction with a cable puller or winch for long runs and heavy-duty applications, such as pulling multiple data cables or large-diameter trunk cables. The pulling rope is first installed using a fish tape or a similar method, and then the cable pulling grip is attached to it to pull the actual cable. The pulling rope's primary function is to handle the high tensile forces required for significant installation projects, which a fish tape is not designed for.