LAN: Local area network.
A local area network (LAN) supplies networking capability to a group of computers in close proximity to each other such as in an office building.
There are many kinds of LAN networks such as Client-Server network in which there exists a dedicated server, peer-to-peer network in which there are no servers, but each computer works as a server.
In LAN the computers are connected through a certain medium like optical fiber or data cables which provides the pathway for electrical signals in between computers. The transmission and receiving of data is controlled by an administrator who authorizes the file access, sharing of files etc.. In LAN network, each computers are equipped with communication device called network adapter.
A network adapter interfaces a computer to a network. The term "adapter" was popularized originally by Ethernet add-in cards for PCs.
Modern network adapter hardware exists in several forms. Besides traditional PCI Ethernet cards, some network adapters are PCMCIA devices (also know as "credit card" or "PC Card" adapters) or USB devices. Some wireless network adapter gear for laptop computers are integrated circuit chips pre-installed inside the computer.
For ex: Assume two computers, say COMPUTER A and COMPUTER B are connected by a LAN newtork, Computer A contains a printer and Computer B doesn't have printer, B will be able to access A's printer through LAN and print the required pages from the A's printer as if it were its own.
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