What does a local area network do?

A local area network (LAN) is designed specifically to connect computers and devices within a limited geographical area, such as a single building or a group of nearby buildings. This localized connection allows for the sharing of resources, such as printers and files, as well as enabling communication between connected devices.

This option captures the essence of what a LAN does, distinguishing it from wider networks, such as metropolitan area networks (MANs) or wide area networks (WANs), which cover larger geographical areas. By focusing on a confined setting, a LAN is often more efficient and can provide higher data transfer speeds, lower latency, and more secure communications among connected devices.

The other choices describe functionalities that, while important in communication and networking, do not accurately define the primary purpose of a local area network. For example, connecting devices in a global network pertains more to WANs, providing internet access is more related to internet service providers, and managing a database of users is a function performed by database management systems rather than the core functionality of a LAN itself.