Key Difference: A LAN port is one which connects the computers and other clients. On the other hand, a WAN port is used to establish a connection with an external network like the internet. Both are quiet the same. They only differ in terms of their usages.

LAN port stands for Local Area Network port. It refers to an individual network that covers a small geographical area. A port refers to a communication channel or endpoint.

These computer ports can also be described as communication points or interfaces with some other peripheral devices. LAN and WAN ports are two important types of ports.

These two ports can be easily found in the back of the routers. A LAN port is used to connect the computers and other client machines. On the other hand, a WAN port is wired to an external network like the Internet. A LAN port is also known as an Ethernet port, network connection and network port. A LAN port allows a computer to get connected with the network by using a wired connection.

A LAN port is implemented by using the RJ-45 Ethernet socket on a computer or a network device. In a local network, all the client machines, server machines and network devices are joined together by a LAN port.

A WAN (Wide Area Network) port is used to establish a connection with an external network like the internet. For a small scale network like home or small business, a WAN port is implemented by using a RJ-45 Ethernet port. This port is present on a router and is wired to a cable or DSL model. In some cases, this port may be referred to as the “Internet.” A WAN port is wired to an external network, therefore it receives information from the external network. The information gets filtered by the router’s internal firewall and routing system. After the filtration, the information is sent across to the LAN port or sent over a wireless connection.

On any router, the WAN port is always kept apart from the LAN ports. In order to differentiate the two types of port, the WAN port is usually differently colored. It is important to mention that a WAN port is exactly the same as a LAN port. However, they both have different usages. A WAN port connects to an Internet source or an external network.

Comparison between LAN port and WAN port:

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