PC home networking

Home networking connects the computers and devices in a household so they can share files, printers, and a single internet connection. A home network is a small local area network (LAN), in which the devices are close together and linked either by Ethernet cabling or, increasingly, by wireless radio. It contrasts with a wide area network (WAN), which spans long distances and, in the home context, usually means the link out to the internet service provider.

Most home LANs are built around Ethernet, a family of standards defined by the IEEE that specifies how devices share the wiring and frame their data. Computers connect to a switch or a combined router, and each is identified by an address so traffic reaches the right machine. Early home setups also used serial links such as RS-232 and dial-up modems, but broadband connections over ADSL or cable later became the norm, delivering far higher speeds over existing telephone or television lines, or over optical fibre where available.

The router is the heart of a typical home network. It joins the household LAN to the WAN side, runs the TCP/IP protocols that the internet uses, and commonly performs network address translation so that several internal devices can share one public address. It also acts as a gateway and may provide a firewall and wireless access point. Reliable communication across these links depends on lower-level mechanisms, including error checks such as the CRC carried in Ethernet frames, to ensure that data arrives intact.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a LAN and a WAN?

A LAN covers a small area such as a home or office and links nearby devices directly, while a WAN spans large distances, for example the connection from a home to the wider internet.

Why does a home network need a router?

The router joins the home LAN to the internet, runs TCP/IP, and usually performs network address translation so many devices can share a single public internet address.

What is ADSL?

ADSL is a broadband technology that carries high-speed data over ordinary copper telephone lines, providing a faster downstream than upstream rate, which suits typical home internet use.