Editing Local area network (section)

{{short description|Computer network that connects devices over a limited area}}
{{Redirect|LAN|other uses|Lan (disambiguation){{!}}Lan}}
[[File:Home LAN local area network example diagram.png|thumb|A conceptual diagram of a LAN at a residential house; the [[Router (computing)|router]] in this case is assumed to also function as a [[wireless access point]]. Also shown in this example (shaded in yellow) is the network's [[Internet access|connection to the Internet]] via [[fixed-line]] means.|330x330px]]

A '''local area network''' ('''LAN''') is a [[computer network]] that interconnects computers within a limited area such as a residence, campus, or building,<ref>{{cite book |author=Gary A. Donahue |title=Network Warrior |publisher=O'Reilly |date=June 2007 |page=5}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Wood |first=Roy |date=2024-04-01 |title=Introduction to Information Systems Management |chapter=Computer Hardware, Software, and Networks |chapter-url=https://open.ocolearnok.org/informationsystems/chapter/chapter-2-computer-hardware-software-and-networks/ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What is a LAN? Local Area Network |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en_uk/products/switches/what-is-a-lan-local-area-network.html |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=Cisco |language=en}}</ref> and has its [[network equipment]] and interconnects locally managed. LANs facilitate the distribution of data and sharing network devices, such as printers.

The LAN contrasts the [[wide area network]] (WAN), which not only covers a larger geographic distance, but also generally involves [[Leased line|leased telecommunication circuits]] or [[Internet]] links. An even greater contrast is the [[Internet]], which is a system of globally connected business and personal computers.

[[Ethernet]] and [[Wi-Fi]] are the two most common technologies used for local area networks; historical network technologies include [[ARCNET]], [[Token Ring]], and [[LocalTalk]].

{{Area networks}}