Focus: Networking Acronyms & Vocabulary (CCST/CCNA Prep)
We are learning to decode common networking acronyms and connect them to their real-world functions.
Certification exams (and real IT jobs) assume you know networking acronyms by heart. If you don’t, you’ll get lost fast — so today we build your “networking dictionary.”
| Acronym | Stands For | What It Does | Example in Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAN | Local Area Network | Connects devices in one building/location | School computer lab |
| WAN | Wide Area Network | Connects networks across long distances | Internet between cities |
| WLAN | Wireless LAN | LAN using Wi-Fi | Home wireless router |
| PAN | Personal Area Network | Very short-range, personal devices | Bluetooth headphones |
| DNS | Domain Name System | Translates domain names → IP addresses | google.com → 8.8.8.8 |
| DHCP | Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol | Assigns IP addresses automatically | Laptop gets IP when joining Wi-Fi |
| IP | Internet Protocol | Identifies devices on a network | 192.168.1.1 |
| MAC | Media Access Control Address | Unique hardware ID for a device | Printed on NIC card |
| TCP | Transmission Control Protocol | Reliable, connection-oriented communication | Web browsing, email |
| UDP | User Datagram Protocol | Fast, connectionless communication | Video streaming, gaming |