Define LAN and WAN

A LAN is a network that is used for communicating among computer devices, usually within an office building or home.
LAN’s enable the sharing of resources such as files or hardware devices that may be needed by multiple users • • Is limited in size, typically spanning a few hundred meters, and no more than a mile.
Is fast, with speeds from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps.
Requires little wiring, typically a single cable connecting to each device.
Has lower cost compared to MAN’s or WAN’s.
LAN’s can be either wired or wireless. Twisted pair, coax or fiber optic cable can be used in wired LAN’s.

Advantages of LAN :

Disadvantages of LAN :

Initial cost of installing local area network is quite high.
Unauthorized user can access critical data of an organization in case LAN admin is not able to secure centralized data repository.

A Wide Area Network is a network that extends over a large geographical area such as states or countries.
WAN network system could be a connection of a LAN which connects with other LAN’s using Telephone line and radio waves. It is mostly limited to an enterprise or an organization.
A WAN is two or more LANs connected together. The LANs can be many miles apart.
To cover great distances, WANs may transmit data over leased high-speed phone lines or wireless links such as satellites.
Multiple LANs can be connected together using devices such as bridges, routers, or gateways, which enable them to share data.
The world's most popular WAN is the Internet.

Advantage of WAN:

WAN helps you to cover a larger geographical area. Therefore, business offices situated at longer distances can easily communicates.
Contain devices likes mobile phones, laptop, tablet, computers, gaming consoles, etc.

Disadvantage of WAN :

The initial setup cost of investment is very high.
There are more errors and issues because of the wide’s coverages and the use of different technologies.

Computer Engineering