What are the types of Computer Network??

A computer network is a group of computers linked to each other that enables the computer to communicate with another computer and share their resources, data, and applications. In this article, we know What are the types of Computer Network!!

Types of Computer Network

A computer network can be categorized by their size. A computer network is mainly of four types:

• LAN(Local Area Network)
• PAN(Personal Area Network)
• MAN(Metropolitan Area Network)
• WAN(Wide Area Network)

1. Local Area Network

1. Local area network is a group of computers connected with each other in a small places such as school, hospital, apartment etc.
2. LAN is secure because there is no outside connection with the local area network thus the data which is shared is safe on the local area network and can’t be accessed outside.
3. LAN due to their small size are considerably faster, their speed can range anywhere from 100 to 100Mbps.
4. LANs are not limited to wire connection, there is a new evolution to the LANs that allows local area network to work on a wireless connection.

2. Personal Area Network

1. It is mostly personal devices network equipped within a limited area.
2. Allows you to handle the interconnection of IT devices at the surrounding of a single user.
3. PAN includes mobile devices, tablet, and laptop.
4. It can be wirelessly connected to the internet called WPAN.
5. Appliances use for PAN: cordless mice, keyboards, and Bluetooth systems.

3. Metropolitan area Network

1. It mostly covers towns and cities in a maximum 50 km range
2. Mostly used medium is optical fibers, cables
3. Data rates adequate for distributed computing applications.

4. Wide Area Network

1. A Wide Area Network is a network that extends over a large geographical area such as states or countries.
2. A Wide Area Network is quite bigger network than the LAN.
3. A Wide Area Network is not limited to a single location, but it spans over a large geographical area through a telephone line, fibre optic cable or satellite links.
4. The internet is one of the biggest WAN in the world.
5. A Wide Area Network is widely used in the field of Business, government, and education.

Summary

The size of a network should be expressed by the geographic area and number of computers, which are a part of their networks. It includes devices housed in a single room to millions of devices spread across the world. Depending upon the size and other factors type is decided.

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