A local network, often called a LAN (Local Area Network), is a group of computers, printers and other devices linked together within a limited area such as a home, office or campus so they can share data and resources directly. Instead of sending information over the public internet, devices communicate within the same network, enabling fast file transfers, shared printing and access to common storage.
Behind the scenes a local network uses hardware such as routers, switches and wireless access points to connect wired and Wi-Fi devices. Protocols like TCP/IP assign each device an address, DHCP automatically issues those addresses and DNS helps translate names into addresses. Networks can be segmented into separate virtual LANs to organise different departments or user groups and can support services such as streaming media, voice calls over IP and centralised backups.