what is nic

A Network Interface Card (NIC), also known as a network interface controller, network adapter, LAN adapter, or physical network interface, is a hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network. It provides a dedicated, full-time connection to a network and implements the physical layer circuitry necessary for communicating with a data link layer standard, such as Ethernet or Wi-Fi. NICs allow computers to communicate over a computer network, either by using cables or wirelessly, and they are essential for both wired and wireless communications. NICs can be internal, where they are inserted into a slot on the motherboard, or external, such as wireless or USB-based NICs. They contain electrical circuitry in line with data link and physical layer standards and have a port to connect to the local area networks (LAN) medium. NICs are crucial for enabling communication between devices on a network and are found in most computers and some network servers. They work as an indispensable component for the network connection of computers, helping to streamline communication and share resources. NICs also represent the computer on the network, and routers, switches, and other network devices use the unique MAC address of the NIC card to identify the computer.