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LAN vs WAN: what is the difference?
In short: A local area network (LAN) connects devices within one place, such as a home, school or office. A wide area network (WAN) connects separate locations over long distances, often using links from telecoms companies. The internet is the largest WAN. On a home router, the WAN port connects to your provider and the LAN ports connect your devices.
LAN vs WAN in one sentence
A LAN joins devices inside one building or site, while a WAN joins networks that are far apart, such as offices in different cities or your home and the internet.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | LAN | WAN |
|---|---|---|
| Area covered | One home, floor, office or campus | Cities, countries, the world |
| Who owns the links | Usually you or your organisation | Usually a telecoms or internet provider |
| Speed | Very high and cheap | Lower per pound spent; costs more |
| Delay | Very low | Higher, because of distance |
| Typical equipment | Switches, access points, cables | Routers, fibre links, SD-WAN, VPNs |
| On your router | LAN ports (often yellow) | WAN or internet port (often a different colour) |
| Example | Your home Wi-Fi and wired devices | A bank linking all its branches |
What is LAN?
A LAN is the network you control: the switches, Wi-Fi and cables inside a building. Because the distances are short and the equipment is yours, LANs are fast and inexpensive. Your home network is a small LAN. See Your home network explained.
What is WAN?
A WAN connects LANs that are far apart. Businesses rent links from telecoms companies, or connect sites securely over the internet using VPNs or SD-WAN. Because distances are long and links are rented, WAN bandwidth costs more and has more delay than a LAN. The internet itself is the biggest WAN of all.
Which one should you use?
It is not a choice: most organisations use both. At home, remember that the router's WAN port plugs into your provider's line or modem, and your devices plug into the LAN ports. Plugging the provider's cable into a LAN port is a common reason a new router "does not work".
Common mistakes and myths
- Plugging the internet cable into a LAN port instead of the WAN port.
- "Wi-Fi is a WAN." Home Wi-Fi is part of your LAN; WLAN means wireless LAN.
- "A faster LAN means faster internet." Your internet speed is limited by the WAN link.
- Mixing up MAN (metropolitan area network) and WAN: a MAN covers a city, a WAN can cover anything larger.
Learn more
Key takeaways
- A LAN connects devices in one place and is fast and cheap.
- A WAN connects distant sites, usually over rented links.
- The internet is the largest WAN.
- On a router, the WAN port goes to your provider and LAN ports go to your devices.
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