What type of networking technology is most commonly used in Local Area Networks (LAN)?

Ethernet is the most commonly used networking technology in Local Area Networks (LAN) due to its reliability, speed, and suitability for connecting multiple devices within a defined area, such as a home, office, or campus. It employs a wired connection, which generally offers higher speeds and lower latency compared to wireless technologies. Ethernet standards have evolved over time, allowing for varying speeds ranging from 10 Mbps to 100 Gbps and beyond, which supports increasing demands for bandwidth in modern networks.

Wi-Fi, while also prevalent in LANs, serves primarily as a wireless alternative to Ethernet. Its convenience and ease of setup make it popular for mobile devices, but it can be subject to interference and signal degradation based on distance and obstructions, which can affect performance.

Token Ring was once a competitive technology but has largely fallen out of favor, as it is slower and less flexible compared to Ethernet, which has become the dominant standard. Bluetooth, while useful for connecting devices over short distances, is not typically employed for LANs due to its limited range and bandwidth, making it unsuitable for most networking needs found in local environments.