| Name | Network Interface Card (NIC), Network Card |
| Main Function | Connects a computer to a computer network, allows to communicate with other networked computers |
| Types | Wired NIC (Ethernet Card), Wireless NIC (Wi-Fi card, Bluetooth card) |
| Speed | Depends on the type and model, common speeds are 10/100 Mbps (Fast Ethernet), 1000 Mbps (Gigabit Ethernet), 10 Gbps (10 Gigabit Ethernet) |
| Interface | PCI Express (PCIe), Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) |
| Hardware Addresses | Each NIC has a unique, hard-coded Media Access Control (MAC) Address |
| Components | Integrated Circuit, RJ-45 socket for Ethernet, LED indicators for activity and speed, antenna for wireless NICs |
| Software | Requires device driver software to operate; this software interfaces between the NIC and the operating system |
