NIC

 Network Interface Card (NIC): A network interface card is an add on expansion card that is used to connect a computer to a network or another computer over the network. NICs are usually designed for a particular type of network, protocol, or media, though multi functional cards are available in the market. A group of personal computers connected to each other is usually called a LAN (Local Area Network). The communication on the LAN usually happens using a particular protocol such as the Ethernet or Token Ring. Basically, NICs provide a dedicated, full time connection to a network. The NIC is connected to the computer’s motherboard and is typically installed in a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) slot. The NIC can either be a wired or wireless device, depending on the type of network connection that is required. Wired NICs are used for networks that use a physical cable, such as an Ethernet cable, to transmit data. Wireless NICs are used for networks that use wireless signals, such as Wi-Fi, to transmit data. The NIC is responsible for several key functions in a network, including:

1. Media Access Control (MAC) address assignment: The MAC address is a unique identifier assigned to each NIC that is used to identify the device on the network.
 
2. Data transmission: The NIC is responsible for transmitting data from the computer to the network and receiving data from the network.
 
3. Error detection: The NIC is responsible for detecting and correcting errors in the data that is transmitted and received over the network.
 
4. Flow control: The NIC is responsible for controlling the flow of data to and from the network, ensuring that the data is transmitted efficiently and without errors.
 
One of the main benefits of using a NIC is increased network performance. The NIC is a dedicated hardware component that is specifically designed for use in networks, and as a result, it is able to transmit and receive data more efficiently than other types of network interfaces.