The Internet is a fine example of a Wide Area Network. But, please someone, explain this better. (Check RoutingForBeginners)
For example, if I have four machines networked in my house, and you have four machines networked in your house, we have two Local Area Networks (LAN's). But, if we put a router between the two LAN's, and then connect them, we've built a Wide Area Network (WAN) (that isn't very wide.) So if I connect my LAN on MapleStreet(silly)to your LAN 'way across town on East Main St., then we have a WAN. Remember, Internet is short for Inter-network.
Actually putting a router in between your two LANS would constitute a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network), WAN is a term usually used to describe network links that span much farther than across town. Town... City... Metropolis... MAN (metropolitan area network).
Re-write in progress (below) - MichaelHall
A 'Wide Area Network' (WAN) describes a set of distributed resources, located on multiple 'Local Area Networks' (LAN). Two additional common terms associated with an individual network are 'Campus Area Network' (CAN) and 'Metropolitan Area Network' (MAN). These terms are generally used to describe a subset of networks within a WAN.
Generally, WANs are wholly owned by a single entity. When two entities (organizations, companies, individuals) join their WANs, an 'Internetwork' is created. The largest, and most diverse example of an Internetwork is the 'Internet.'
Since a WAN consists of many LANs, network devices must have some knowledge of the network topology. The devices used for mapping the WAN are called 'routers'. Routers communicate with each other to maintain path information necessary to forward traffic, and are found between LANs. The common 'gateway router' used to connect a consumer with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) maintains the most basic form of a network topology map; all non-local traffic is assumed to be on the ISP's network.
Related Terms:
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In the rewrite, you also want to mention the concept of "bridge" and possibly PcmciaBridges.
