Võrguadapters

Võrguadapters, also known as network interface controllers (NICs) or network cards, are hardware components that enable a computer to connect to a network. They translate data from the computer's internal format into a format suitable for transmission over a network medium, such as Ethernet cables or Wi-Fi signals. Conversely, they receive data from the network and convert it back into a format the computer can understand.

These adapters can be integrated directly onto the motherboard of a computer or installed as separate expansion cards. They come in various forms, including wired Ethernet adapters, which typically use RJ45 connectors, and wireless Wi-Fi adapters that use antennas to communicate wirelessly. The performance of a võrguadapter is often measured by its speed, such as 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, or 10 Gbps, indicating the maximum data transfer rate it can support.

Modern computers almost universally include built-in network adapters, making external ones less common for standard desktop and laptop use. However, they remain essential for servers, specialized networking equipment, and for adding network capabilities to older or custom-built systems. The driver software is crucial for the operating system to communicate with and control the võrguadapter.