In networking, WAN (Wide Area Network) and LAN (Local Area Network) are two types of networks that serve different scales and purposes:
LAN (Local Area Network)
Definition: A network that covers a small geographic area, like a home, office, or building.
Range: Usually spans a single building or a small group of buildings (typically within 1 km).
Purpose: Allows devices within close proximity to communicate with each other, share resources, and access the internet.
Common Technologies: Ethernet, Wi-Fi.
Examples: Office networks, home networks, school networks.
WAN (Wide Area Network)
Definition: A network that covers a large geographic area, often connecting multiple LANs over long distances.
Range: Can span cities, countries, or even continents.
Purpose: Facilitates communication and data sharing over large distances, often connecting multiple LANs together.
Common Technologies: MPLS, leased lines, satellite, 4G/5G, and the internet.
Examples: The internet, corporate networks connecting branch offices in different cities or countries.
Key Differences
Size: LAN is limited to a smaller area; WAN can span vast distances.
Ownership: LANs are typically owned, managed, and maintained by an individual organization. WANs often involve leasing parts of the network from service providers.
Speed: LANs often have faster speeds due to lower latency and fewer transmission delays; WANs can be slower due to longer distances and more complex routing.