Difference between LAN and a WLAN

LANs are privately owned and span a smaller geographical area (restricted to a few kilometers). It can be used in various settings, including offices, residences, hospitals, and schools. The setup and management of a LAN is quite straightforward.

Just like a traditional wired LAN in which the connected devices transmit data over Ethernet cables, whereas in a WLAN, the connected devices transmit data through Wi-Fi. Mobile users can connect to a WLAN through wireless connection. The IEEE 802.11 group of standards describe the technologies for LANs.

Go through this article to find out more about LAN and WLAN and how they are different from each other.

What is a LAN?

A Local Area Network (LAN) is a private network that connects computers and devices within a limited area like an office, a building or a campus. On a small scale, LANs are used to connect personal computers to printers. However, LANs can also extend to a few kilometers when used by companies, where a large number of computers share a variety of resources like hardware (e.g. printers, scanners, audiovisual devices, etc.), software (e.g. application programs), and data.

In a LAN, a switch or stack of switches connects a group of computers and devices using the TCP/IP protocol's private addressing mechanism.

Routers are used to connect the LAN's edge to the wider WAN.

Data transmission in a LAN is fast because the number of computers linked is limited. The connections must, by definition, be high-speed, and hardware must be reasonably inexpensive (Such as hubs, network adapters, and Ethernet cables).

Twisted pair and coaxial cables are utilized as a LAN communication medium. Because it only traverses a limited distance, the inaccuracy and noise are kept to a minimum.

Data speeds on early LANs were limited in a range of 4 to 16 Mbps; however, now the speeds have improved significantly (100 to 1000 megabits per second).

A LAN usually uses wired connections; however, wireless connectivity can also be used. A LAN's fault tolerance is higher, and the network is less congested.

In a LAN, the propagation delay is relatively short. Larger LANs can accommodate thousands of computers, whereas smaller LANs may only employ two computers.

What is a Wireless LAN?

WLAN stands for Wireless Local Area Network. The primary advantage of using a WLAN is that it requires no cables to connect the devices. It's extremely easy to establish a connection.

WLANs use high-frequency radio waves and frequently incorporate an Internet access point. A WLAN allows users to wander throughout the coverage area, often a house or a small office, while remaining connected to the network.

Though WLAN looks dissimilar to the traditional LAN, it works in the same way.

• First, new devices are configured with the help of DHCP.
• Then, they can connect with other devices on the network in the same manner they would work on a wired network.
• The main difference is how the data is passed on. In LAN, data is transferred through physical cables in a series of Ethernet packets. However, in WLAN, packets are transferred without any cables.

Wireless routers provide wireless connection to the devices whose Wi-Fi are ON and in the range of the router’s signal. Devices can be laptops, tablets, smartphones, and other wireless devices. Also, wireless routers frequently connect to the cable modem or the devices to connect to the Internet easily.

WLAN is Different from Wi-Fi

WLAN is not to be confused with the Wi-Fi trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. While some people use the terms "Wi-Fi" and "WLAN" interchangeably, there are fundamental semantic distinctions to be made.

A Wi-Fi connection refers to a specific wireless connection that a device uses, whereas a WLAN refers to the network as a whole. Furthermore, while Wi-Fi is not a technical term, it is presented as a superset of the IEEE 802.11 standard and is occasionally used interchangeably with it. Even though over 700 million people use Wi-Fi through over 750,000 Internet connection hotspots, not every Wi-Fi equipment has Wi-Fi Alliance certification.

Difference between LAN and WLAN

The following table highlights the major differences between a LAN and a WLAN.

Key	LAN	WLAN
Stands for	LAN stands for Local Area Network.	WLAN stands for Wireless Local Area Network.
Connection Type	LAN connections include wired as well as wireless connection technologies.	WLAN connections are completely based on wireless technology.
Cost	LAN connections are less expensive and more secure than the wireless connections of WLAN.	WLAN connections are more expensive and considered less secure than wired connections.
Complexity	It is relatively complex to set up a LAN. One needs to connect several network devices such as routers and switches with the help of Ethernet cables.	It is relatively simple to configure and set up a WLAN.
Performance	LANs provide good performance and the impact of weather is limited.	WLAN provides high performance but may get impacted in bad weather.
Mobility	A LAN has limited mobility. It needs Ethernet to connect devices.	WLAN is highly mobile in nature. No Ethernet is required to connect the devices to a WLAN.
Interruption	LAN connections cannot be interrupted easily.	WLAN connections can be interrupted easily.
Examples	Desktops, laptops connected to LAN in an office.	Desktops, laptops connected on WiFi or hotspot based networks.

Conclusion

LANs are simple networks that are used to connect computers and devices within a small area like an office, a building, or a campus. Traditional LANs use Ethernet cables to connect the devices, whereas WLANs are completely wireless. WLANs can support hundreds and thousands of devices. You can also increase the range and coverage of a WLAN by the addition of one or more repeaters. However, Wireless LANs are considered less secure than traditional wired LANs.