What is a LAN cable?
LAN is an abbreviation of ‘Local Area Network’, a LAN cable is the connection between different devices (computers, printers, network switches, etc.) which creates a network (LAN). It connects your devices like computers, printers, and phones so they can share information quickly and easily within a small area like a building or a campus.
Network cable or LAN cable?
Okay, now we know what a LAN is: a local network. But is a network cable the same as a LAN cable? Yes, they are two names (the English and the Dutch) for the same type of cable. Wi-Fi (WLAN) also ultimately goes to the network (and the internet) via a LAN cable. So you need a network cable in every type of network.
Most common LAN cables
Very often you come across Foiled Twisted Pair cables (FTP) as LAN cables. These are finished with an RJ-45 connector. This way they fit directly into most computers, printers, routers, switches and the like. Of course they do not fit into tablets and phones, which are too thin for that. The most commonly used network cables are:
- Cat5e (budget friendly)
- Cat6 (frequently used in buildings and offices, up to 50 meters)
- Cat6a (fastest cable, further than 50 meters)