What is the purpose of a Local Area Network (LAN)?

The purpose of a Local Area Network (LAN) is primarily to connect multiple devices within a limited geographical area, such as a home, school, or office building. This allows devices like computers, printers, and servers to communicate and share resources efficiently. A LAN typically offers high data transfer speeds and facilitates the sharing of files and applications, which is essential for collaboration and resource management in localized environments.

In contrast, connecting users to the internet wirelessly pertains more to wireless networking technologies rather than the specific purpose of a LAN. Securing sensitive information through encryption and creating a backup system for data storage are functions that can be part of a LAN setup but do not define the fundamental purpose of a LAN itself. Thus, while those options relate to networking in broader contexts, they do not address the core function of establishing communication and resource sharing within a confined area, which is central to the concept of a Local Area Network.