A local area network (LAN) uses wired connections to connect devices within a limited geographic area like a building or campus. Ethernet became the dominant wired LAN technology using carrier sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) to regulate shared access to the transmission medium. Ethernet has evolved from 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps standards to meet increasing bandwidth demands. Key components of wired LANs include network adapters, cabling, connectors, switches/hubs, and software protocols. Other historical wired LAN technologies like Token Ring and Token Bus used token passing for medium access but have been largely replaced by Ethernet.