Computer Networks · Class 12 · Types of Networks
networksrevision⏱️ 5 min read
PAN, LAN, MAN & WAN Compared
Four types, one table. Learn the table, then test yourself on the kind of situation an exam actually describes.
1All four side by side
| PAN | LAN | MAN | WAN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full form | Personal Area Network | Local Area Network | Metropolitan Area Network | Wide Area Network |
| Area | Around one person | Room, building, campus | Town or city | Cities, states, countries, continents |
| Range (about) | 10 m | 1 km | 30–40 km | No limit |
| Owned by | One person | One organisation | A company or city | Usually many |
| Speed | Enough for a few devices | Very fast | Fast | Varies; long links are shared |
| Setup cost | Very low | Low | High | Very high |
| Example | Phone + earbuds | School lab, home Wi-Fi | City cable TV | The Internet |
2Sort the situations
Which type of network?
Read the situation and pick PAN, LAN, MAN or WAN.
1 of 10score 0
Your phone playing music on wireless earbuds
3Mistakes to avoid
Home Wi-Fi is a LAN, not a WAN
It connects you to the Internet, but the network itself is only your house. It is a (wireless) LAN that joins a WAN.
Wireless does not decide the type
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and cables can each appear in more than one type. Look at the area, not at whether there are wires.
Many computers does not mean WAN
A campus with two thousand computers is still a LAN. A WAN is about distance, not headcount.
4Check yourself
Quick Check
Which network type is usually owned and managed by a single organisation such as a school?
Quick Check
A university has 3,000 computers, all on one campus. Its network is a…
Quick Check
Which pair is in the correct order of area covered, smaller first?