Last updated on October 8th, 2023 at 03:03 pm
If you have ever used a computer, there is a good chance that you have also used a network. Companies often use networks to share resources between computers easily. There are many different types of networks.
In this article, we will explore:
- What a network is and
- The different types of networks.
What is a network?
A network is a group of computers that you connect to share resources such as printers, data, fax machines, or scanners.
Types of networks
Some types of computer networks are:
- Local Area Network (LAN);
- Wide Area Network (WAN); and
- Metropolitan Area Network (MAN).
Just as there are many different types of networks, there are also many different types of network technologies and computers. To learn more about the types of computers available, visit our articles on types of mobile devices or what is a supercomputer.
Local Area Network (LAN)
A local area network is a network that we use to connect devices in a single physical location – a small area such as a room or a building. An example of such a network is a school’s information technology lab. A LAN network may contain a few computers or thousands.
It is not the number of computers that identifies a network as a LAN. Rather, it is the fact that the computers are in a single area.
Every type of LAN uses several devices to extend the network and make connectivity possible. Some of those devices are switches, modems, routers, and network adapters.
Types of LAN networks
There are two types of local area networks:
- Peer-to-peer network (P2P): A peer-to-peer network is a network where two computers are connected without the aid of a server. A peer-to-peer network is best suited for home office or small business use. Each computer can act as a server to share its resources (namely files) with the others.
- Client-server network: A client-server network is a network where we set up a centralized computer (a server) to allow other computers (clients) to access resources. The client-server network is a type of network that businesses typically use. Many clients or computers may connect to a single server in a client-server network to access the data and other resources of the server. We use the term client-server network to refer to the established protocol used in sharing resources on this network.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
We use the term metropolitan area network to refer to a network that connects devices in large areas. This type of network is contained in a larger area than a LAN but a smaller area than a WAN.
A metropolitan area network is a type of network where computers share information within a small geographic area, such as across multiple buildings, within a town, or a region. This network is usually made up of several LAN networks.
Wide Area Network (WAN)
A wide area network is a network used to connect computers worldwide. It is often described as a network of networks. It is the largest computer network known to man.
When you connect to the internet with your computer, you are joining a wide area network. When a country uses a network to connect its embassies in different countries, this is also an example of a wide area network.
Before you go
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