What does the acronym “LAN” stand for?

The acronym "LAN" stands for Local Area Network. A Local Area Network is a network that connects computers and devices within a limited geographic area, such as a home, school, or office building. LANs are commonly used to share resources like files, printers, and internet connections, and they are characterized by high data transfer speeds and low latency compared to wide area networks (WANs), which cover larger distances.

This definition highlights the essential characteristics of LANs, distinguishing them from other types of networks, such as WANs or metropolitan area networks (MANs). Local Area Networks typically use Ethernet and Wi-Fi protocols to facilitate communication between devices, providing a cost-effective and efficient solution for network connectivity in localized settings.