A local area network - or LAN - encompasses computers and other devices that connect to a server together at a specific location - whether an office or a commercial environment. Devices use LAN connections in the business to share resources. You'll find more than one computer able to connect to the same printer in a business environment, and this is done on the local area network. Mobile devices and computers can also be connected this way, and a LAN can work for as many users as you would like. So, if you have a business packed with one hundred staff members, they can all share the same connection.

There are a lot of components that allow people to connect to the internal servers, and these are made up of switches, routers, and cables that will connect everyone together. A local area network can transfer your business data far more quickly than an office telephone line can, but there is a limit to the number of computers that can be supported. There is also a limit to the distance in which data can be transferred. With the help of telephone lines, local area networks can also connect to other local area networks, and this can be done with radio, satellite, and telephone lines.

This is what is called a wide-area network or WAN. The biggest WAN in the world is the internet, as it connects everyone everywhere as long as an internet connection is available. The most significant difference between a LAN and a WAN is that the LAN uses wires and cables that can be a considerable issue and get in the way. A WAN does all the same things as a LAN, but without any of the wires to worry about.

more info: lan connectivity