Term: network adapter

A network adapter is a hardware interface allowing a device of some sort, usually a computer, to be connected to a network of some sort. It “adapts” or converts from the physical protocols and requirements of the network to those used by the computer internally.

In most modern personal computers, network adapters are typically built in, but additional adapters can often be added using the computer’s assorted expansion interfaces.

Typical network adapters are either ethernet (wired) adapters or wireless adapters.