Every LAN may or may not require WAN, but every WAN requires LAN

Basically a network is a group of devices which can communicate which each other. According to the size they are divided as LAN (local area network), WAN(wide area network), MAN (metropolitan area network). In this blog we are going to learn in brief about LAN, WAN and dependency of WAN on LAN.

LAN

LAN stands for local area network. This allows for computers and devices that are close together to connect. They will then be able to share files or complete tasks and this usually means that they are on the same local wifi network or connected locally through cables or any other means to transfer files, media i.e. any kind of data.

LAN NETWORK DEVICES CLOSE TO EACH OTHER COMMUNICATING WITH LOCAL IP ADDRESS

WAN

WAN is also known as a Wide Area Network. It’s used to connect devices that are far from another. It’s quite common for a WAN setup to be far more complex than a LAN. Internet is a great example of WAN.

TWO DISTANTLY LOCATED LAN COMMUNICATING THROUGH A COMPLEX NETWORK[SERVER]USING INTERNATIONAL IP ADDRESS

Dependency of WAN on LAN

Essentially, you start with a LAN and then use the WAN to connect multiple LAN networks to one another. In general WANs are used to connect LANs which are far away from each other.

In above two diagrams day to day life example is shown, in first diagram it is shown that we can connect our mobiles, laptops, desktops, T.V. sets etc to each other using connecting cables, bluetooth or wifi. This network is LAN, generally LAN area of coverage is limited to our house or our floor.

In second diagram two distantly located LANs are communicating with each other. If someone who is living far from us has to send something to us which is on his mobile or pc then he will need a internet connection, for that he must have mobile data or wifi router so he can upload that files to the internet then we can download it from internet to our devices.

So as we can see that when the devices are close to each other like our mobiles or pcs we do not need WAN to transfer data in between them we can simply do it by using connecting cables or wifi i.e. LAN doesn’t need a WAN to transfer data.

But in case of WAN local network [wifi sharing or through cables] is required .WAN is used to connect small LANs to make a big network to transfer data to larger distances.

So every LAN may or may not require WAN but every WAN requires LAN.