🏠 Local Area Network (LAN)

🤔 What is a LAN?

A Local Area Network (LAN) is a collection of connected devices, such as computers, printers, and servers, confined to a small geographical area. This area is typically a single home, office building, or a school campus. The defining characteristic of a LAN is its limited scope.

✅ Key Characteristics of a LAN

Limited Geographic Area: LANs are restricted in size, which is their most important feature.
High Speed: Data transfer rates within a LAN are very high (typically 1 Gbps or more) because the distances are short.
Private Ownership: The network equipment (cables, switches, routers) is usually owned and managed by the organization or individual who uses it, not by a large service provider.
Low Latency: The delay (latency) in transmitting data between devices is very low due to the short distances.

🛠️ Common LAN Technologies

There are two primary technologies used to build modern LANs, and they are often used together.

Ethernet (Wired LAN): This is the most common standard for wired networks. Devices are connected using Ethernet cables (like Cat 6) to a central switch. Ethernet is known for its high speed, reliability, and security.
Wi-Fi (Wireless LAN or WLAN): This technology uses radio waves to connect devices to the network without physical cables. A Wireless Access Point (AP) broadcasts the Wi-Fi signal. Wi-Fi offers mobility and convenience, which is why it’s popular in homes, cafes, and offices across India.

🧱 How a Simple LAN is Built

A typical home or small office LAN consists of the following components:

A Router: To connect the entire LAN to the internet and direct traffic. In most Indian homes, the device from the ISP (like JioFiber or Airtel) is a combination modem-router.
A Switch: To connect multiple wired devices. This is often built directly into the home router.
A Wireless Access Point (AP): To allow wireless connections. This is also typically built into the home router.
Network Interface Cards (NICs): An Ethernet port or Wi-Fi chip inside each host device (laptop, phone, etc.).