What is a network card?
A network adapter or, as they say in everyday life, a network card is a device for communication between computers on a local network or for accessing the global Internet. It can be of two types: a computer built into the motherboard or a separate microcircuit with a corresponding output connector. By the type of connection (socket), there are network adapters in the format ISA (obsolete bus), PCI, USB, PCMCIA (for laptops), PCI-E and some others. The first two specifications allow you to connect the network adapter only inside the PC case. USB and PCMCIA sockets are output to the front or back of the chassis. Therefore, the adapter of these specifications is connected externally. PCI-E is a state-of-the-art high-speed bus, replacing the PCI bus. The connection method for the adapter of the mentioned bus is internal.
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When a computer is used as a router and is also part of a local area network (LAN), at least two network adapters are used. One is connected to the local network through a switch or hub device, the other has Internet access through a special WAN port. All other network devices route data packets through this computer. The necessary literature on this topic can be found on the net, for example, in public electronic libraries.