|  | 1.4 | Basic Networking Terminology
| 1.4.4 | Local area networks

One early solution to these problems was the creation of local area networks (LANs). Because they could connect all of the workstations, peripherals, terminals, and other devices in a single building, LANs made it possible for businesses using computer technology to efficiently share such things as files and printers.

Local area networks (LANs) consist of computers, network interface cards, networking media, network traffic control devices, and peripheral devices. LANs make it possible for businesses that use computer technology to share, efficiently, such items as files and printers, and to make possible communications such as e-mail. They tie together: data, communications, computing, and file servers.

LANs are designed to do the following:

- operate within a limited geographic area
- allow many users to access high-bandwidth media
- provide full-time connectivity to local services
- connect physically adjacent devices

There are many online resources for gaining the most recent information on LANs. Take a moment to browse some of these sites.

| Web Links
| PlanetIT: LAN Index
| InfoWorld
| Network Magazine
| LAN Times