What's a LAN (Local Area Network)?
A local area network (LAN) supplies networking capability to a group of computers in close proximity to each other, like in an office building, school, or home. LANs are usually built to enable the sharing of resources and services like files, printers, games, applications, email, or internet access. Multiple local networks may stand alone, disconnected from any other network, or might connect to other LANs or a WAN (like the internet). Traditional home networks are individual LANs but it is possible to have multiple LANs within a home, like if a guest network is set up. Technologies Used to Build a LAN Modern local area networks predominantly use either Wi-Fi or Ethernet to connect their devices together. A traditional Wi-Fi LAN operates one or more wireless access points that devices within signal range connect to. These access points in turn manage network traffic flowing to and from the local devices and can also interface the local netwo...