Network Adapters

The Network Adapter is the component that links a compute to the network. The adapter prepares the data for transmission, sends and receives data, and translates the data back into a computer-readable form.

Different types of components can function as network adapters. For example, you might use a modem to dial a phone line to connect from your computer to the Internet. Or, a special purpose adapter card might physically link your computer to a cable. Network adapter cards are sometimes called network interface card (NIC which is a more familiar term) or LAN cards.

The network adapter fits into an expansion slot inside the computer. The inside edge of the adapter is fitted with a connected that matched up to the computer’s internal bus. The bus is the pathway inside the computer that connects all the components to the computer’s CPU and memory. There are many different types of bus architectures and computers. Old bus architectures carried 8 bits of information at a time; newer buses are much faster, and carry 16, 0r 32 bits of information.