What does a flash cord do?

I need to use my nikon sb25 off camera for a small project. I looked into wirless transmitters, but it looks expensive compared to a cheap flash cord? I just wanted to check a flash cord is used for off camera flash?

So my setup would be my camera on a tripod, then the flash about 2ft away on it's flash stand? With the wire connecting both the flash and camera to shoot as if thr flash were in the hotshoe?

I'm new to using flashguns

Some Nikon cameras have PC flash connectors on the body.

If yours does not, then you will have to buy a hot shoe PC adapter or the Nikon SC-28 TTL Coiled Remote Cord for use with Nikon flash units mounted off camera

Really need to know the model of your camera, such as D3100.

You're on the right track as buying a transmitter to trigger a flash 2' away is fairly stupid and far more expensive. Here's a few Nikon off camera cords, one of which should fit what ever camera body you have: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...av-Search=