Meaning – The term local area network, refers to the network of connected devices that exist within a specific location. LANs may be found in homes, offices, educational institutions, or other areas.
A LAN may be wired, wireless, or a combination of the two. A standard wired LAN uses Ethernet to connect devices together.
Most residential LANs use a single router to create the network and manage all the connected devices. The router acts as the central connection point and enables devices, such as computers, tablets, and smartphones to communicate with each other.
LAN servers are more common in business and educational networks since the extra capabilities are not required by most home users.
Example of usage – “A computer may also be the central access point of a LAN. In this setup, the computer acts as a server, providing connected machines with access to files and programs located on the server.”
