Abstract: The present invention is directed at an all-fiber in line isolator. The basic isolator includes a monomode optical fiber, a multimode waveguide, a coil or other traditional means to generate a magnetic field, and a fiber block or other traditional means to couple the fiber to the waveguide. In one embodiment, the fiber has a core and a cladding, and maintains a circular state of light polarization. The fiber has a coupling region where the cladding is partially removed. The waveguide evanescently couples to the fiber along the coupling region. The waveguide has magneto-optical properties such that applying a magnetic field along it causes backward propagating light to transfer to the waveguide with minimal disturbance to forward propagating light. Other embodiments using birefringent optical fibers are disclosed as well.