Fiber optic connectors and associated adapters

A fiber optic connector having a ferrule that forms an optical connection with another fiber optic connector. An outer housing supports the ferrule and has a front end portion and a longitudinal centerline axis. The front end portion includes a front end face with a portion of the ferrule being forward of the front end face. The front end portion includes a protector that is shaped and arranged to protect the ferrule. The protector is arranged so that the fiber optic connector and another fiber optic connector of identical construction can, starting in the same orientation, be mated together by rotating said other fiber optic connector 180° about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline axis, aligning the longitudinal centerline axes and moving the fiber optic connectors along the longitudinal centerline axes until the fiber optic connectors are mated to form the optical connection.