Local Area Network (LAN)

In understanding the purpose of a gateway or router it is necessary to understand the idea of a Local Area Network (LAN). Computers that can talk to each other without talking to another computer first are in the same LAN. If you have two computers in the same room, chances are good that they are probably in the same LAN. Computers on the same network are either directly connected together with a crossover cable, or are both connected somehow to the same HUB or switch.