The cartilage that covers the articulating surfaces of bones in a synovial joint is

Explanation

Hyaline cartilage is smooth, glassy and slightly compressible, so it lets bone ends slide over each other with very little friction while cushioning the load. Fibrous cartilage is tougher and appears where shock absorption matters more than smoothness, as in the intervertebral discs and the menisci of the knee. Elastic cartilage supports the pinna of the ear and the epiglottis.