Types of network
There are two classifications of A group of interconnected computers/devices.:
- Local area network. A network of computers that covers a small area, eg a school or college.
- Wide area network. A network that spans across a building, buildings or even countries, eg the internet.
LANs
A 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 done through national telephone infrastructures or via wireless transmission. Each office or branch has its own LAN that is connected together using the WAN.
The A global network connecting millions of computers. is essentially a huge, international WAN.
