A computer network connects electronic devices through wireless or wired connections, allowing sharing of resources. Networks can be as simple as two computers sharing files or as large as networks spanning schools and businesses with thousands of devices. Larger networks are made up of local area networks (LANs) within individual buildings connected by wide area networks (WANs) spanning multiple locations. Network software provides communication protocols to allow all devices to interconnect and share resources, while routers, switches, servers and other hardware direct traffic and sharing.