Fundamentals of computer networks - AQATypes of network

There are three classifications of network:

• local area networks (LANs)
• wide area networks (WANs)
• personal area networks (PANs)

LANs

A local area network (LAN) is a network that is geographically confined to one building or site. Examples include networks employed by small businesses, small organisations, schools, colleges, universities and in homes.

LANs are owned and maintained by the organisation.

WANs

A wide area network (WAN) is a network that is spread over a wide geographical area. It can cover more than one site, or be spread across a country, or even the world.

Organisations that have more than one office or branch, such as banks, tend to use a WAN. The WAN allows the head office to communicate and share data with the sub-offices and branches. Communication is through national telephone infrastructures or via wireless transmission. While each office or branch has its own LAN, they are connected together using the WAN.

The internet is essentially a huge, international WAN.

PANs

A personal area network (PAN) is a network that is spread over a very small area. It often covers no more than a few metres and is used to connect personal devices such as a smartphone and wireless headphones or a laptop.

Setting up a PAN using a smartphone is also known as creating a ‘hotspot’ and makes use of limited Wi-Fi or bluetooth to connect devices.