WAN vs. LAN – Whats the difference?
There can be some confusion as to the difference between a LAN (or Local Area Network) and the WAN (or Wide area Network)
Really the difference is very simple and just depends on which side of your home wireless router your on.
The LAN side is typically your home network itself. This is your wireless and wired network in your home. This is where you plug in your laptops and gaming systems. Most home router will have a 4 port switch built into the router. This is used for your home desktops and is considered part of the LAN
The WAN side of things is where you connect you router to your DSL or cable modem. This is just one single connection that is considered "outside" of the home network. This is how you connect to the rest of the world. As the name indicates the WIDE AREA NETWORK is connected to the WORLD WIDE WEB.
