What is the primary purpose of a VLAN?

The primary purpose of a VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) is to segment a network into separate broadcast domains. This segmentation allows for improved network management by isolating traffic, which minimizes the broadcast traffic that reaches devices not belonging to the same VLAN. Consequently, this can enhance overall network performance and security.

By creating different VLANs, network administrators can group devices based on logical rather than physical arrangements, making it easier to manage and control network traffic. For example, a company might have separate VLANs for different departments such as finance, sales, and human resources, ensuring that broadcasts are confined to those respective groups.

Additionally, VLANs provide advantages like enhanced security, as traffic between VLANs can be controlled via access control lists and routers. This feature is crucial in environments where sensitive data needs to be protected from unauthorized access within the same physical network infrastructure.

Thus, the capability of VLANs to effectively create distinct broadcast domains is a fundamental aspect of networking, allowing for a more organized, efficient, and secure network environment.