DIN 41617 connectors are a specific type of DIN connector used in 19-inch Eurocard racking systems, mainly for telecommunications purposes. DIN stands for Deutsches Institut für Normung, the German standards organisation that first standardised this type of connector.
DIN connectors are generally a type of connection distinguished according to the number they are accompanied by. For example, DIN 41618 connectors are different from DIN 41617. The plug often consists of a metal skirting surrounding a number of different pins in different configurations, according to the specific type of connector. Usually DIN connectors are associated with uses in audio, as this was what they were first used for. They are very versatile, which makes them a popular type of connector to use.
DIN 41617 connectors can have varying number of contacts, as well as differing contact plating materials. They also vary in their contact resistance and voltage rating, and can be different genders as well.