An optical connector comprising: a plug housing (113, 213, 313) that defines an optical connector opening; at least one optical fiber within the plug housing (113, 213, 313); an internal coupling surface (119, 219, 319) within the plug housing (113, 213, 313), wherein an end of the at least one optical fiber is located at the internal coupling surface (119, 219, 319) such that the end is exposed at the internal coupling surface (119, 219, 319); and a translating element (120, 220, 320, 420) having a first coupling surface (122, 222, 322, 422) and a second coupling surface (124, 224, 324, 424); at least one optical component (126, 226, 326, 426) within the translating element (120, 220, 320, 420) that extends from the first coupling surface (122, 222, 322, 422) to the second coupling surface (124, 224, 324, 424), wherein the translating element (120, 220, 320, 420) is slidably positioned within the plug housing (113, 213, 313) and is biased such that: when the optical connector is in a disengaged state, the translating element (120, 220, 320, 420) is positioned toward the optical connector opening such that the second coupling surface (124, 224, 324, 424) of the translating element (120, 220, 320, 420) is displaced from the internal coupling surface (119, 219, 319); and when the optical connector is in an engaged state with a mated optical connector, the translating element (120, 220, 320, 420) is positioned within the plug housing (113, 213, 313) such that the second coupling surface (124, 224, 324, 424) of the translating element (120, 220, 320, 420) is positioned at the internal coupling surface (119, 219, 319) such as to contact the internal coupling surface (119, 219, 319), and the at least one optical fiber is optically coupled to the at least one optical component (126, 226, 326, 426) by contacting or nearly contacting within 5μm without the use of collimating optical components formed on the end of the at least one optical fiber; a bias member (128, 228, 328) within the plug housing (113, 213, 313) that biases the translating element (120, 220, 320, 420) toward the optical connector opening when the optical connector is in the disengaged state. a plug housing (113, 213, 313) that defines an optical connector opening; at least one optical fiber within the plug housing (113, 213, 313); an internal coupling surface (119, 219, 319) within the plug housing (113, 213, 313), wherein an end of the at least one optical fiber is located at the internal coupling surface (119, 219, 319) such that the end is exposed at the internal coupling surface (119, 219, 319); and a translating element (120, 220, 320, 420) having a first coupling surface (122, 222, 322, 422) and a second coupling surface (124, 224, 324, 424); at least one optical component (126, 226, 326, 426) within the translating element (120, 220, 320, 420) that extends from the first coupling surface (122, 222, 322, 422) to the second coupling surface (124, 224, 324, 424), wherein the translating element (120, 220, 320, 420) is slidably positioned within the plug housing (113, 213, 313) and is biased such that: when the optical connector is in a disengaged state, the translating element (120, 220, 320, 420) is positioned toward the optical connector opening such that the second coupling surface (124, 224, 324, 424) of the translating element (120, 220, 320, 420) is displaced from the internal coupling surface (119, 219, 319); and when the optical connector is in an engaged state with a mated optical connector, the translating element (120, 220, 320, 420) is positioned within the plug housing (113, 213, 313) such that the second coupling surface (124, 224, 324, 424) of the translating element (120, 220, 320, 420) is positioned at the internal coupling surface (119, 219, 319) such as to contact the internal coupling surface (119, 219, 319), and the at least one optical fiber is optically coupled to the at least one optical component (126, 226, 326, 426) by contacting or nearly contacting within 5μm without the use of collimating optical components formed on the end of the at least one optical fiber; when the optical connector is in a disengaged state, the translating element (120, 220, 320, 420) is positioned toward the optical connector opening such that the second coupling surface (124, 224, 324, 424) of the translating element (120, 220, 320, 420) is displaced from the internal coupling surface (119, 219, 319); and when the optical connector is in an engaged state with a mated optical connector, the translating element (120, 220, 320, 420) is positioned within the plug housing (113, 213, 313) such that the second coupling surface (124, 224, 324, 424) of the translating element (120, 220, 320, 420) is positioned at the internal coupling surface (119, 219, 319) such as to contact the internal coupling surface (119, 219, 319), and the at least one optical fiber is optically coupled to the at least one optical component (126, 226, 326, 426) by contacting or nearly contacting within 5μm without the use of collimating optical components formed on the end of the at least one optical fiber; a bias member (128, 228, 328) within the plug housing (113, 213, 313) that biases the translating element (120, 220, 320, 420) toward the optical connector opening when the optical connector is in the disengaged state.