===== Network Interface Card (NIC) =====
[[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:start| Return to Glossary ]]


A Network Interface Card (NIC) is a hardware component without which a computer cannot be connected over a network. It is a circuit board installed in a computer that provides a dedicated network connection to the computer. It is also called network interface controller, network adapter or LAN adapter.

The purpose of the NIC:

  * Allows both wired and wireless communications.

  * Allows communications between computers connected via [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:l:lan]] as well as communications over large-scale [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:w:wan]] networks through [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:i:ip]].

  * Supports both a [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:p:physicallayer|physical layer]] and a [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:d:datalinklayer|data link layer]] device, i.e. it provides the necessary hardware circuitry so that the physical layer processes and some data link layer processes can run on it.

Source: [[https://www.tutorialspoint.com/what-is-network-interface-card-nic]]

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