Ethernet is a networking standard which can be used to create a data connection between one computer and one or more other computers. The devices are connected to a network router using ethernet cables. Ethernet cables are made of copper or optical fiber, with the latter being widely-used for professional networking applications.
In private homes, ethernet is frequently used to connect computers, set-top boxes, and other devices to a network router, which in turn is connected to the Internet. In order to connect to an ethernet network, a device must be equipped with an ethernet socket. Most phones, tablets, and other mobile devices do not have ethernet sockets. Computers and laptops without ethernet sockets are also becoming increasingly common, with WLAN being used to connect to Internet instead.
The advantages of ethernet networks are that the connection is very stable and runs at the full available speed. WLAN connections, on the other hand, can be very unstable and slow.
Swiss Internet service providers (ISPs) normally offer Internet routers with four ethernet sockets. If four sockets are not enough for all your devices, you can connect a network router with multiple ethernet sockets to the Internet router to extend the number of available sockets.
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