A Local Area Network (LAN) is a computer network that covers a small geographic area, such as a single building, office, or campus. In this network, the devices such as computers, printers, servers, and other peripherals are connected through a physical cable or wirelessly using Wi-Fi.

A LAN allows devices to communicate and share resources, such as files and printers, within the network without relying on the internet. This means that all the devices connected to the network can interact with each other and access the same resources in real-time.

Components of a LAN: A typical local area network (LAN) consists of the following components:

Network Interface Cards (NICs): A NIC is a hardware component that connects a device, such as a computer or a printer, to the local area network (LAN).

Switch: A switch is a device that connects all the devices in the LAN. It is used to direct data traffic between devices within the network.

Router: A router is a device that connects the LAN to the internet or another WAN. It is used to direct data traffic between the local area network (LAN) and the internet.

Cables: Cables are used to connect the devices in the LAN. Ethernet cables are commonly used for wired connections, while Wi-Fi is used for wireless connections.

Types of local area network (LAN): There are several types of local area network (LAN), including:

Ethernet LAN: This is the most common type of LAN, which uses Ethernet cables to connect devices within the network.

Wireless LAN: In a wireless LAN, devices are connected wirelessly using Wi-Fi technology.

Token Ring LAN: In a Token Ring LAN, devices are connected in a ring topology, and data is transmitted in a circular manner.

Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) LAN: In an FDDI LAN, devices are connected using fiber optic cables, which provide faster data transfer speeds and greater bandwidth.