What is a VLAN?

A VLAN, or Virtual Local Area Network, is primarily a method of segmenting a physical network into multiple logical networks. This allows network administrators to create distinct broadcast domains in a single physical network infrastructure. By dividing the network in this way, VLANs enhance performance and security within the network, as they limit the broadcast traffic and can isolate sensitive data or device groups from one another.

This segmentation allows devices on the same physical network to behave as if they are on separate networks. For example, you might have different departments within a company—such as HR, sales, and IT—each requiring different access policies or security measures. By implementing VLANs, each department can have its own virtual network that isolates its traffic while still using the same physical cabling and hardware of the existing infrastructure.

The other options do not accurately represent what a VLAN is or does. A routing protocol primarily pertains to how data packets are managed and routed between different networks, which does not reflect the function of a VLAN. The notion of VLANs being a technology exclusive to wired networks is misleading, as VLANs can also be utilized in wireless networks. Lastly, identifying a VLAN as a wireless communication standard misrepresents its purpose; it is not a standard itself but a configuration that