What is a VLAN?

A Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) is a logical grouping of devices within a local network that allows those devices to communicate as if they are on the same physical LAN, regardless of their actual physical location. VLANs help in segmenting broadcast domains, improving security, and optimizing network performance by reducing unnecessary traffic.

By using VLANs, network administrators can isolate sensitive data traffic, manage network resources more effectively, and enforce policies based on the needs of specific user groups or departments. For example, you might have separate VLANs for different departments such as finance, marketing, and sales, which can enhance security by ensuring that only authorized users can access sensitive information. This flexibility in managing network organization is one of the primary benefits of using VLANs in enterprise networks.

The other options represent terms that do not accurately describe VLANs and do not reflect the concept of segmenting networks through logical means.