• A local area network (LAN) is a group of computers and peripheral devices that share a common communications line or wireless link to a server within a distinct geographic area.

• A local area network may serve as few as two or three users in a home office or thousands of users in a corporation's central office.

• Homeowners and information technology (IT) administrators set up LANs so that network nodes can communicate and share resources such as printers or network storage.

• LAN networking requires Ethernet cables and Layer 2 switches along with devices that can connect and communicate using Ethernet. Larger LANs often include Layer 3 switches or routers to streamline traffic flows.