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Commonly confused · Networking Fundamentals

LAN vs MAN vs WAN: What's the Difference?

These terms describe network scope. A LAN covers a building or campus, a MAN spans a city, and a WAN connects sites across large geographic distances, often using carrier services.

Local Area Network (LAN)

Full definition
vs

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

Full definition
vs

Wide Area Network (WAN)

Full definition
Local Area NetworkMetropolitan Area NetworkWide Area Network
Geographic scopeRoom, building, or campusCity or metro areaRegions, countries, or global
OwnershipUsually owned by the organizationOften a city, utility, or carrierUsually leased from carriers or ISPs
Typical technologyEthernet, Wi-FiMetro Ethernet, fiber ringsMPLS, SD-WAN, leased lines, Internet VPNs
Speed and latencyHigh speed, low latencyHigh speed, moderate latencyVariable speed, higher latency
Cost per bitLowModerateHighest
ExampleOffice floor networkConnecting city government buildingsLinking branch offices to HQ
Remember it

LAN is your building, MAN is your city, WAN is the world.

Exam tip

Exam items describe a scenario and ask which network type it is. Watch for related terms like CAN (campus), PAN (personal, e.g. Bluetooth), and SAN (storage) as distractors.

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