A network card (also called network adapter, network interface card, etc.) is a piece of computer hardware designed to provide for computer communication over a computer network.
The card implements the electronic circuitry required to communicate using a specific physical layer and data link layer standard such as ethernet or token ring. This provides a base for a full network protocol stack, allowing communication among small groups of computers on the same LAN and large-scale network communications through routable protocols, such as IP.
A network card typically has a twisted pair, BNC, or AUI socket where the network cable is connected, and a few LEDs to inform the user of whether the network is active, and whether or not there is data being transmitted on it.
Most newer computers have an ethernet interface built into the motherboard, so a separate network card is not required unless multiple interfaces are needed or some other type of network is used.
Notable manufacturers
See Also
- MAC address
- TCP Offload Engine (TOE)
- Host Bus Adapter (HBA)