A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area.
Servers are high-speed machines that hold programs and data shared by network users.
Diskless and floppy-only workstations are sometimes used, which retrieve all software and data from the server. A printer can be attached locally to a workstation or to a server and be shared by network users. Small LANs can allow certain workstations to function as a server, allowing users access to data on another user's machine. Multiple servers are used in large networks. A component part of the software resides in each client and allows the application to read and write data from the server as if it were on the local machine.