LAN support a variety of communications transmission medium such as a Ethernet cable (thin cable, thick cable, and twisted pair), fiber and wireless transmission. A LAN usually has low cost, installation, expansion and maintenance and LAN installation is relatively simple, good scalability.

But regardless of size, the single defining characteristic of a LAN is that it connects devices that are in a single, limited area. The advantages of using a LAN are the same advantages as having any devices networked together. Those devices can share a single internet connection, share files with one another, print to shared printers, and so on.