A Network Interface Card (NIC) is a hardware component that enables a device to connect to a network using wired (Ethernet) or wireless (Wi-Fi) communication.

Elaboration:

• Every NIC has a unique MAC address for identification in a network.
• Supports data transmission and reception through network protocols like TCP/IP.
• Can be integrated into motherboards (built-in NIC) or installed separately as PCI/USB adapters.

Example:

A laptop’s Wi-Fi adapter (wireless NIC) allows it to connect to a Wi-Fi network.