Network interface controller

Hardware component that connects a computer to a network

A network interface controller (NIC, also known as a network interface card, network adapter, LAN adapter and physical network interface) is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network. Early network interface controllers were commonly implemented on expansion cards that plugged into a computer bus. The low cost and ubiquity of the Ethernet standard means that most newer computers have a network interface controller built into the motherboard or contained in a USB-connected dongle, although network cards remain available.

From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA. More on occurri.