Back to glossary

Ethernet

The most widely used technology for wired local area networks (LANs), defining wiring and signaling standards.

Categorynetwork

Overview

Ethernet is a family of networking technologies used in LANs. It was standardized as IEEE 802.3 and has evolved from 10 Mbps to 400 Gbps and beyond.

Key Concepts

  • CSMA/CD: Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (used in older half-duplex Ethernet).
  • Frames: The unit of data transmission in Ethernet.
  • MAC Addresses: Used to identify devices on an Ethernet network.

Physical Media

  • Twisted Pair (Copper): Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a (using RJ45 connectors).
  • Fiber Optics: For longer distances and higher speeds.

Related Terms

MAC AddressSwitch