Indoor or outdoor first
This is not a preference, it is a construction difference. Indoor cords are built on parallel SPT cable and are not rated for wet locations. Outdoor cords use a W rated jacketed cable and moulded ends with no screw joint for water to enter. An indoor cord used outside is a hazard, not a shortcut.
Gauge against load and length
A cord that is too thin for the load runs warm and drops voltage at the far end. 16 AWG is fine for a lamp or a small appliance over a short distance. 14 AWG covers general use. 12 and 10 AWG are for power tools, heaters and long runs.
Outlet count
A single outlet cord is the simplest. Two and three outlet bodies reduce the number of cords in a room, but the total load still has to stay within the rating of the cord feeding them.
The lighted end
A small indicator in the outlet body lights when the cord is energised. On a dark site or behind furniture that is the fastest way to tell whether the circuit is live, without a test lamp.
