LAN is a collection of interface devices that allow communication between consecutive devices. While on the other hand, WAN covers a larger area like any country/continent. Let’s figure out the major difference between LAN and WAN.
What is LAN?
Local Area Network is a collection of interface devices that allow communication between consecutive devices. LAN can cover the smallest area including schools, institutes, hospitals, and more.
What is WAN?
When it comes to a Wide Area Network, it covers a larger area as compared to the Local Area Network and Metropolitan Area Network.. It has the capability to cover any country/continent. If we talk about the pricing, WAN is expensive and it is generally owned by a sole organization.
Difference between LAN and WAN
| S.NO | LAN | WAN |
| 1. | The full form of LAN is Local Area Network. | The full form of WAN is Wide Area Network. |
| 2. | LAN is private. | WAN can be private or public. |
| 3. | When it comes to LAN, the propagation delay is shorter. | In the case of WAN, the propagation delay is longer. |
| 4. | The speed of LAN is higher. | The speed of WAN is slower. |
| 5. | In LAN, the blockages are less. | In WAN, the blackages are more. |
| 6. | The configuration and maintenance is easy in LAN. | The configuration and maintenance is harder than LAN. |
| 7. | In LAN, the fault tolerance is more. | In WAN, the fault tolerance is less. |
| 8. | LAN covers smaller areas like school, hospital, etc. | WAN covers a large area like a country. |
| 9. | Coaxial or UTP cable is the transmission medium used by LAN. | PSTN or satellite link is a transmission medium used by WAN. |
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