Basic Cisco Cable Question

I bought some Cisco switches and routers to make a "Cisco Lab" to practice configuring the ports etc. I took a basic Cisco networking class and went through the steps in the books and so on. I now want to start practicing the things I learned and things in the books in my lab. But I can't remember the first step! I don't remember what kind of cable was used to connect the routers and switches to the back of the computer so I can access the Cisco IOS. I think its like a "console cable" or something like that. Its the cable that connects to the "console" port on the router and the switch. Its wide with a lot of pins. The cables I'm asking about were "official Cisco" cables that were light blue with the Cisco emblem. As far as I know, with my very limited experience, its how you access the IOS with a computer.

Second question: I also don't remember if it went into just a basic "monitor" port on the back of the test computer, or if it was a special port the computers in class had.

Believe it or not the workbooks they gave me don't say what type of cable was used.