What connects fire hoses to the hydrant?

The connection between fire hoses and hydrants is typically achieved using outlets. Outlets are the points on a hydrant where hoses are attached. They are designed to allow for a secure and safe connection, ensuring that water can flow freely from the hydrant to the fire hose. This is critical for firefighting operations, as it enables firefighters to quickly deploy water to combat fires effectively.

While caps are components that cover the outlets when not in use, their role is not to connect hoses but rather to protect the outlet from debris. Threads are found on the hose couplings and adapters, facilitating the connection between hoses or to other devices, but they do not specifically identify the connection point to hydrants. Adapters are used to adjust or modify connections between different sizes or types of threads, but again, they do not represent the direct connection to the hydrant itself. Instead, outlets serve as the specific points for attaching fire hoses, making that the most appropriate answer.