3.3 Network Types

Network Types by Scale

Networks are classified by geographic reach. A PAN (Personal Area Network) connects devices within a few meters (Bluetooth headphones). A LAN (Local Area Network) covers a small area like a home or office. A MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) spans a city. A WAN (Wide Area Network) covers large distances, connecting multiple LANs — the internet is the largest WAN.

Wired vs Wireless

Wired networks use physical cables (Ethernet) for stable, fast, and more secure connections since an attacker needs physical access. Wireless networks use radio waves (Wi-Fi) for mobility and convenience but are more vulnerable to interception and unauthorized access since signals travel through open air and can extend beyond intended boundaries.

Network Topologies

Topology describes how devices are arranged and connected. A star topology connects all devices to a central hub/switch — easy to manage but the hub is a single point of failure. A mesh topology connects devices to multiple others, offering redundancy and resilience but higher cost and complexity to secure every link.

Key terms

PAN

Personal Area Network — connects devices within a few meters, such as Bluetooth accessories.

LAN

Local Area Network — connects devices in a small area like a home or office.

WAN

Wide Area Network — connects multiple LANs over large distances; the internet is the largest WAN.

Star topology

All devices connect to a central hub/switch; easy to manage but the hub is a single point of failure.

Mesh topology

Devices connect to multiple other devices, providing redundancy and resilience at higher cost/complexity.

Try an AP-style question

A school's network within one building is a…

1. LAN
2. PAN
3. WAN
4. MAN