What is LAN (Local Area Network) in Computer Network?


A local area network is a comparatively lesser and privately-owned network with the highest duration of 10km to support local connectivity within a building or limited geographical area.

In private offices, this type of networking is trendy and effectively used. They are generally used to interface with personal computers and buildings, incorporate workplaces and industry to share resources and transfer data.

The figure shows a LAN having computers from several departments like Sales, Finance, Production, Publication, etc.

Features of LAN

Limited Geographic Limits

A LAN is constructed for a limited area. It usually traverses a single frequency workgroup floor in a building or on campus etc. LAN uses different protocols or rules for information transmission.

Limited number of users

Generally, LAN supports fewer numbers of users, frequently around five or ten, and more users can be supported by associating multiple LANs, which provides better results than creating one big-network of the nature of LAN.

Reliability and Stability

LANs are very reliable. Failures on a LAN are generally because of wrong or incorrect installation. Monitoring software that comes with a LAN supports beneficial programs like error recognition, prevention of transmission loss and outstanding security features.

Flexibility

A major growth in LANs today is the flexibility they often. Earlier adaptation would provide only one type of desktop computers. Today advanced LANs, however, can provide various types of computers. This flexibility also develops operating systems and repository media.

Security and Administration

A LAN administrator is one who handles the working of a LAN. The administrator deals with functions like adding or removing users, generating passwords, providing authorizations and different resources like printers and backing up information. These functions can be implemented without much difficulty since both hardware and software are relatively simple to handle today.

Updated on: 27-Apr-2022

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