The ribbon style of cabling was first pioneered as a way to facilitate electromagnetic processing within early computer mainframes, but smaller versions can be found in a wide array of small electronics. The main idea with a ribbon-shaped cable is to harness a number of important wires together, and connect them as one — a concept that in many ways simplified electronics manufacturing as well as repair. Wires that are bundled are often easier to install and reattach.
Less frequently these cables were also used outside of machines, often as a way to connect one piece to another. They were some of the first to connect early computers to printers, for instance. While they aren’t normally used for power, nearly any messages that need to be communicated between devices can be carried over their wires very effectively.