Networking Intermediate

What is VLAN (Virtual LAN)?

A logical grouping of network devices that creates separate broadcast domains on the same physical network infrastructure.

VLANs segment a physical network into multiple logical networks. Devices in the same VLAN can communicate directly, while VLAN-to-VLAN traffic requires routing. This improves security, reduces broadcast traffic, and simplifies network management.

VLANs use 802.1Q tagging to identify which VLAN a frame belongs to. Common uses include separating departments (HR, Engineering), isolating guest Wi-Fi, and segmenting IoT devices from main networks.

Related Terms

ARP (Address Resolution Protocol)

A protocol that maps IP addresses to physical MAC addresses on a local network segment.

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A technology that creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote server, securing internet traffic.

DNS (Domain Name System)

A hierarchical naming system that translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses.

A network routing technique where the same IP address is announced from multiple locations, directing users to the nearest server.

A set of rules that control inbound and outbound traffic at the subnet level, acting as a stateless firewall in cloud and enterprise networks.

HTTPS Everywhere

The practice of securing all web traffic with TLS encryption, ensuring data integrity and privacy between browsers and servers.

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