Coverage Area or Size
Networks can be defined as any of the following, based on their coverage area:
· PAN (personal area network)—a network of elements of one computer connected within a few feet of one another in a personal space (e.g., a computer and its printer).
· LAN (local area network)—a network of computers and network devices inside a building (home, office, school) or group of buildings. LANs are simple, cheap, and fast.
· WAN (wide area network)—a network that connects two or more local area networks (LANs) and can span large geographical areas. For example, international companies use LANs to establish networks across multiple locations to share resources.
· MAN (metropolitan area network)—a network that provides citywide coverage. MAN is now considered old-fashioned and an out-of-date terminology.
· GAN (global area network)—a network that covers the largest geographical area. The best example of a GAN is the internet, which connects computers on a global scale.
