A Network Interface Controller (NIC), also known as a or , is a hardware component that allows a computer or other device to connect to a network. NICs can be built into the or added as an expansion card in a computer. They are essential for establishing communication between devices on a (LAN) or the internet. NICs operate at the (Layer 2) of the OSI model and handle the framing of data packets, error detection, and, in some cases, error correction.
The primary function of a NIC is to transmit and receive over a network. It converts data from the computer into a format suitable for transmission over the (like Ethernet, Wi-Fi, etc.). NICs have a unique (MAC) address, a hardware address that identifies the device on a network. The MAC address is used by switches and other network devices to route data to the correct . NICs can operate at different speeds (e.g., 10/100/1000 Mbps for Ethernet) and in full-duplex or half-duplex modes.
There are various types of NICs, including NICs, which are used for wired networking and connect devices using Ethernet cables. Wireless NICs are used for , allowing devices to connect to Wi-Fi networks. Fiber optic NICs are used in networks where fiber optic cables are employed for higher data transfer speeds, and virtual NICs provide network connectivity for virtual without a physical NIC.
NIC features include Wake-on-LAN, which allows a computer to be remotely on or awakened from sleep mode using a network message. TCP Offloading improves performance in high-speed networks by offloading certain processing tasks from the to the NIC. Additionally, VLAN Support allows the NIC to be used in a virtual LAN, which can segment network traffic for and efficiency.
Keywords
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