Ethernet is a family of wired computer networking technologies that are commonly used in local area networks (LAN), metropolitan area networks (MAN), and wide area networks (WAN) . It is a communication protocol that connects devices in a network and enables them to communicate with each other via a set of rules or common network language called a protocol. Ethernet describes how network devices format and transmit data so other devices on the same LAN or campus network can recognize, receive, and process the information.
Ethernet is a reliable, cost-effective, and widely used LAN technology that offers high-speed connectivity and easy manageability for local networks. Compared to wireless LAN (WLAN) technology, Ethernet is typically less vulnerable to disruptions and can offer a greater degree of network security and control because devices must connect using physical cabling. Ethernet cables are the physical, encased wiring over which the data travels.
Ethernet was commercially introduced in 1980 and first standardized in 1983 as IEEE 802.3. Since then, Ethernet technology has evolved to meet new bandwidth and market requirements. In addition to computers, Ethernet is now used to interconnect appliances and other personal devices. As Industrial Ethernet, it is used in industrial applications and is quickly replacing legacy data transmission systems in the worlds telecommunications networks. By 2010, the market for Ethernet equipment amounted to over $16 billion per year.
